How is blood glucose monitoring performed and how often should it be done?
Blood glucose monitoring is a method to measure blood glucose levels (sugar), which is especially relevant for those with diabetes. This practice helps understand how food, exercise, and measurement affect sugar levels, allowing adjustments to keep it within a healthy range. There is no ideal frequency for this, as it can vary depending on individual needs, treatment, and specific medical recommendations. In patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, it will be more frequent than, for example, in seasonal diabetes and pregnancy management.
What type of foods are good for maintaining stable glucose levels?
In glucose management, every food you consume can either help or harm you, so it is essential to know which foods will help you maintain stable glucose levels. It is important to determine that there are no foods that, when consumed, will lower your glucose levels. This is important to clarify because there is a belief that certain foods do help lower these levels.
Some of these foods include Greek yogurt, known for its high protein and low carbohydrate content, nuts, which contain proteins, healthy fats, and fiber, or tomatoes, which can help keep glucose in check due to their low carbohydrate content and high fiber content, as well as containing a large amount of antioxidants.
What type of exercise is beneficial for controlling blood glucose levels?
Exercise is essential for controlling blood glucose levels. Both aerobic exercise (walking, jogging or running, swimming, cycling, etc.) and strength training/hypertrophy (weight lifting helps build muscle and improves insulin sensitivity) can be beneficial for blood glucose control.
What lifestyle changes can help improve glycemic control?
Eating a balanced diet (vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, etc.), regular exercise (a combination of aerobic and anaerobic exercises), maintaining a healthy weight, controlling stress with relaxation techniques, and avoiding excessive alcohol and tobacco consumption will be crucial for controlling the glycemic index.
How can stress management contribute to glycemic control, and what techniques are effective?
Stress can increase blood sugar levels. Managing it reduces these stress hormones and improves insulin sensitivity. This helps better control blood glucose. Relaxation techniques, the consumption of natural supplements such as tryptophan or ashwagandha, and exercise help manage stress and benefit blood sugar control.
