Diabetes is a widespread problem affecting approximately 11% of the US population. Unfortunately, an alarmingly high number of people — 23% — don’t know they have high blood sugar. Even more concerning? Another 96 million American adults have elevated blood sugar levels that are considered prediabetic.
Signs of high blood sugar include:
- Increased thirst or hunger
- Frequent urination
- Blurred vision
- Headache
- Skin or vaginal yeast infections
- Cuts, wounds, or sores that heal slowly
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
Without treatment, high blood sugar can cause serious health complications, from nerve and kidney damage to eye disease. So how can you avoid these problems?
To start, Dr. Adepero Okulaja at The Doctor’s House in Edina, Minnesota, recommends working with a skilled medical expert to assess your blood sugar levels and let you know when they’re a cause for concern. Together, you can create a management strategy to get your blood glucose numbers under control.
As an internal medicine provider, Dr. Okulaja offers a combination of strategies for managing chronic diseases like diabetes. One essential component involves lifestyle changes at home that can improve your health and wellness and, in the case of high blood sugar, bring your levels back into healthier ranges.
Do you have high blood glucose? Dr. Okulaja suggests taking these steps at home to help your numbers.
Tune into your diet
Most people admit they should eat better, but it can be challenging to know where to start. When you have high blood sugar, it’s crucial to understand how your diet impacts your glucose levels.
It’s common to think that the most important aspect of your diet involves the food you eat. However, when you have diabetes, you also need to pay attention to the quantity and combination of items you ingest. Generally speaking, that involves:
- Eating well-balanced meals
- Not skipping meals, especially breakfast
- Determining healthy portion sizes for things you eat
- Learning how to identify and count carbohydrates
- Avoiding sugar-sweetened drinks
- Coordinating mealtimes with your medications, if needed
This may seem overwhelming, but Dr. Okulaja can help you learn the skills you need to adopt a blood sugar-friendly diet.
Move your body
Did you know that every time you exercise, your muscles use the glucose in your system for energy? Even light activities, like standing, gardening, or running the vacuum, get your body burning sugar. However, the more strenuous the activity, the longer the effect lasts.
Adopting a regular exercise habit helps your body use glucose more efficiently in general. When you have high blood sugar, your doctor can ensure your exercise goals are safe, effective, and based on your unique needs.
General guidelines for exercising with high blood sugar include:
- Knowing your numbers so you can set safe goals
- Checking your sugar levels before, during, and after physical activity
- Establishing an exercise schedule coordinated with your meals and medications
- Staying hydrated
- Modifying your medication usage as directed if needed
Dr. Okulaja also suggests having a small snack, sweetened juice, or glucose tablets handy during your workout in case your blood sugar drops too low.
Trim your waistline
Do you have some extra weight to lose? It could be affecting your blood sugar. But there’s good news — even a 5-pound loss can significantly improve your blood sugar levels.
For the best results, focus on losing 5%-10% of your body weight. That may seem like a lot, but it’s only 10-20 pounds for someone who weighs 200 pounds. If you’ve already started paying attention to your diet and adding exercise to your daily life, you’re well on your way to shedding those excess pounds.
Additional steps that can help trim your waistline and lower your blood sugar include:
- Drinking more water throughout the day
- Learning to manage stress
- Getting enough quality sleep
Dr. Okulaja also offers personalized IV hydration/infusion and vitamin/mineral supplementation at The Doctor’s House that can support your weight-loss efforts.
Are you curious to learn more steps you can take to control your blood sugar at home? Contact The Doctor’s House to set up a consultation with Dr. Okulaja today.
