Blood Sugar Management: Why It's Crucial and How to Do It Right

There are times when you crave for your favorite snacks and drinks, and just embrace the comfort these treats bring you. But what if you've been noticing a blood sugar spike after indulging? When not maintained, the simple act of giving in to your wants may actually lead to health issues. But don’t worry! We're here to talk about why your blood sugar can spike and how you can manage it without giving up your favorite beverages and meals.

What is blood sugar?

Blood sugar, also known as blood glucose, is your body’s main source of energy. This comes from the food you eat, especially carbohydrates. Your body then breaks down the food and turns it into glucose, releasing it into your bloodstream.

Sometimes, after having a meal or snack, your blood sugar levels can rise more than usual, leading to what we call a blood sugar spike. This can be due to various reasons, like the type of food, how much you eat, or how your body processes it. When this happens, your pancreas gets a signal from your body to release insulin, a hormone that helps get glucose to your cells to be consumed as energy.

Why should you look after your blood sugar?

When your blood glucose levels get too high, this results in a disease called diabetes. When you have diabetes, there is either a lack of insulin production in your body or the insulin you have can’t be used by your body properly as it needs to be—or both. This is the main reason why it is important that you take good care of your blood sugar health.

Consistent high blood sugar levels can lead to health issues over time, like diabetes. In addition, it can make you feel sluggish, thirsty, or even give you headaches.

Tips on how to control blood sugar

While having high blood sugar is a serious condition that no one should take lightly, worry not, because there are definitely ways for you to control it! Here are simple things that you can do every day to help you manage your blood sugar.

1. Know your food

When it comes to keeping your blood sugar low, food with a low glycemic index or low GI is truly your best friend. They release glucose slowly and steadily, which then prevents sudden spikes.

For instance, you can try swapping your usual and daily white rice with Duru Bulgur, a healthy carb alternative packed with fiber and nutrients. You can still enjoy your daily meals but with something better and healthier!

2. Snack smartly

Most of the snacks that people enjoy contain a lot of sugar. But did you know that you can still satisfy your sweet tooth without risking your blood sugar? Instead of reaching for sugary snacks, why not try something healthier?

Gullón offers a range of snacks that won't make you feel guilty after munching. They have sugar-free snacks like Gullón Sugar-Free Choco and Vanilla Wafers, and Sugar-Free Chocolate Chip Biscuits. If you want to try different kinds of healthy snacks, they also have vegan-friendly crackers like Bio-Organic 4 Grains with Spelt and Choco Chips Cookie. So many to choose from, right?

3. Keep yourself hydrated

Even as simple as keeping yourself hydrated can help in letting you manage your blood sugar levels. Drinking water actually helps in flushing out excess sugar from your system. It is one of the easiest ways to stay in control of your blood sugar.

In addition, drinking water and staying hydrated comes with many benefits that will help you in the long run. If you want to read more about how you can keep in check your daily water intake, feel free to visit the article we wrote about helping you stay hydrated anytime and anywhere.

4. Exercise regularly

Engaging in physical activities helps in using up the glucose in your blood. So take some time from your day, even if it’s only 10 or 15 minutes, and get your body moving.

You can take a walk or quick job around your block in the morning, maybe do some cardio workout at home, or have fun and dance to your favorite tunes while using up your energy.

5. Lessen sugar intake

It may be hard to lessen your sugar intake, especially when it comes to drinks. Most times, it’s easier to reach for sweet and refreshing drinks just to satisfy our craving. However, doing this regularly is not beneficial to our health or our blood sugar. So instead, look for alternatives that can give you that same satisfaction.

For healthy and nutritious morning drinks, NutriBrownRice is here! It is an easy-to-prepare brown rice drink that not only satisfies your taste buds but also ups your nutrient intake. It's like a win-win situation!

6. Be mindful of your coffee

Many people surely love their morning coffee. And if you’re one of them, you don’t have to worry about giving up your favorite moments of sipping your caffeinated drink. For instance, you may opt to just emit sugar from your coffee and enjoy it black or with just milk.

If you want to keep the sweet taste of your drink, you may want to try Chek Hup. Chek Hup has a healthy instant coffee variant with low GI rock sugar, which will surely help you keep in check of your blood sugar level. Also, it’s the perfect blend to kickstart your day without the usual sugar rush.

Remember, eating and staying healthy is all about balance. The same thing goes for when you’re looking after your blood sugar level. Finding the right balance between enjoying your favorite food and things to do and choosing to eat and do healthy things will help you take control of looking after your blood sugar.

Managing blood sugar doesn't mean giving up on the joys of eating and drinking. It's about making informed choices and finding healthier alternatives. And most times, you don't have to look far. You can choose better today with the help of The Goodwill Market. — (TGM)