How Do You Lower Your Blood Sugar

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Caper88
Caper88 Posts: 418 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I have been doing some research on my PCOS and according to what I have read it is important for me to lower my blood sugar levels to lose weight. I have been switching my carb type from white to whole wheat when ever I can. I also have been trying to select low GI foods. I was wondering how everyone keeps their blood sugar levels down? Do you take prescription medication or natural pills like apple cider vinegar? Is there something you eat or drink?

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  • JulieTX86
    JulieTX86 Posts: 303
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    I know exercise lowers your blood sugar.
  • DrBorkBork
    DrBorkBork Posts: 4,099 Member
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    I'm a T2 diabetic, and I have seen a significant improvement in my blood sugar by cutting carbs and staying active. I also have PCOS & hypothyroidism.
  • mamahawkins
    mamahawkins Posts: 8 Member
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    One of the best ways is by walking about 10-20 minutes daily. My daughter has type 1 Diabetes and walking after dinner about 10-15 minutes will drop her blood sugar by quite a few points. It's not a difficult fast walk but just a leisurely walk up the street and back. I have to keep some fast acting sugar on hand in case it drops too low before we get back home. If you could walk about 10 minutes not long after each meal, you would probably keep your numbers down pretty well.
  • CelesteENelson
    CelesteENelson Posts: 89 Member
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    I take medication called Metformin for my PCOS. It is a diabetic drug that is used to help the body from making excess insulin when not necessary. That is how my obgyn found that I had PCOS. After years of testing and seeing an infertility specialist who had no idea why I couldnt have kids. This gentleman did a blood test and checked my insulin. It was a little high but not diabetic high. So now I take metformin 2x a day to help as PCOS can cause abnormal weight gain. However, now that I have lost 74 lbs I am having blood pressure issues (too low) so I may have to go in and consult my dr about what to do now.
  • kelika71
    kelika71 Posts: 778 Member
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    I posted on your other post...

    I have PCOS and other things. Last night, I posted a blog with just about every answer to everything I've done in almost a year. Feel free to check it out.
  • Goal_Seeker_1988
    Goal_Seeker_1988 Posts: 1,619 Member
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    If I am understanding correctly you are a diabetic? Well, if you are tryin to lower your sugar levels and are not a diabetic then I am a bit confused.
    Diabetics have to work twice as hard to lose their weight, yes. If you want to lower you sugar levels, cut out your carbs, eat complex carbs only. Like oatmeal, don't over do it on your fruits(eat only once a day), instead eat vegatables. Eat proteins. Don't eat: Potatoes, corn or canned veggies. There, I gave it my best, so I hope I am of some help.
  • kelika71
    kelika71 Posts: 778 Member
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    If I am understanding correctly you are a diabetic? Well, if you are tryin to lower your sugar levels and are not a diabetic then I am a bit confused.
    Diabetics have to work twice as hard to lose their weight, yes. If you want to lower you sugar levels, cut out your carbs, eat complex carbs only. Like oatmeal, don't over do it on your fruits(eat only once a day), instead eat vegatables. Eat proteins. Don't eat: Potatoes, corn or canned veggies. There, I gave it my best, so I hope I am of some help.

    You don't have to be Diabetic to lower blood sugar levels. Most PCOS patients are insulin resistant, which is essentially, borderline Diabetic. That's one of many reasons someone who's not Diabetic wants to lower blood sugars.
    Ummm I am Diabetic and I don't think I've had to work any harder than anyone else.

    I wish people would realize you do NOT have to cut carbs to beat IR or Diabetes. Carbs are just as important to have for them, too!
    I DO eat potatoes, corn and other veggies. My A1C level is that of a NORMAL person...not a Type 2 Diabetic that I am.
  • fittocycle
    fittocycle Posts: 827 Member
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    My dad has been a diabetic for over 40 years. He says adding a little cinnamon (about 1/4-1/2 tsp) of cinnamon to his oatmeal helps lower his blood sugar. Worth a try!
  • Slavic_Spice
    Slavic_Spice Posts: 78 Member
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    bump
  • marianna0056
    marianna0056 Posts: 13 Member
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    Just watched Dr. Oz tonight. He said that if you take a supplement called Chromium Polynicotinate, it will help lower your blood sugar and perhaps stave off Diabetes. Hope that helps!
  • anubis609
    anubis609 Posts: 3,966 Member
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    I'm diabetic. I'm now asymptomatic of having diabetes, but I'm still diabetic by definition.

    I was on medication to stimulate my pancreas to produce insulin after having acute pancreatitis and going into a diabetic coma last April. Once I got out of the hospital, I changed my diet entirely. Whole wheat everything with lots of fiber. The inclusion of vegetables and "free foods" which have 5g of carbs or less as snacks, such as low sodium chicken/beef/vegetable broth, celery, using hot sauce and mustard as condiments. VERY limited amounts of juice and milk, i.e. 1/2 cup is already enough to spike glucose levels by 15 - 30 points. Long story short, after a month and a half of diet change got me off of insulin and glucose medication completely. By June 2010, I had lowered my HgA1C levels by over half of the original test number when I was hospitalized.

    The trick is to really watch how many carbs you're consuming per meal. At the most, I never had any more than 45 - 60g of carbs per meal, and no more than 30g of carbs for snacks. The diabetic exchange list states that 15g of carbs = 1 carb serving. So, no more than 3 - 4 per meal. Fiber can help lower the carb count in the exchange, e.g. 8g of fiber can make a 24g carb of whole wheat toast equal to about 20g of actual carb intake.

    In order to prevent blood sugar spikes and crashes, a steady consumption of carbs throughout the day can keep it level. And as stated, the more fiber, the longer it will take for the carbs to be processed by the body, so it won't spike glucose suddenly.

    Lastly, exercise will absolutely lower blood sugar levels. When the glucose is stored in the body's cells, exercise will use up those glucose stores and lower blood sugar. So, just make sure you don't overload on carbs at one time, or the whole day, and your glucose level will steadily become lower.

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