Doing so should mean that blood sugar levels never get excessively high. You can lower blood sugars quickly with rapid-acting insulin, taking missed doses of oral medications such as meglitinides or sulfonylureas, exercising, and drinking water. Glucagon normally tells your liver to break down stored sugar (called glycogen) and release it into your bloodstream. By blocking the action of glucagon, Trulicity helps to further reduce your blood sugar levels.
If you’re watching your carbohydrate intake, you don’t have to avoid these foods. Instead, you’ll need to be careful about portion size and substitute with whole grains when possible. The more food you eat, the greater the amount of sugar you’ll absorb. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin several times a day. Those with type 2 diabetes may only have to take it once a day. If you have diabetes, it’s important to try to stop your blood sugar level getting too high.
Managing blood sugar levels is crucial for overall health, especially for individuals with diabetes. When blood sugar levels are elevated, it is important to take action to bring them back down to a healthy range. But how long does it take to lower blood sugar?
Factors Affecting Blood Sugar Levels
Prediabetes and diabetes are marked by elevated blood sugar, which over time contributes to health complications. Lowering blood sugar is an important goal of treating these conditions, and a combination of medication and lifestyle changes are often needed. There are several well-proven methods for blood sugar control, like limiting carbohydrates, exercising, quitting smoking, and controlling weight. Changing diet can have a drastic effect on blood sugar levels. Limiting carbohydrates and replacing simple carbs with complex carbs can lower blood sugar. This could involve swapping out foods like juices, sodas, and pastries with high-fiber vegetables, and refined grains with whole grains.
There are several factors that can impact how quickly blood sugar levels decrease. The type and amount of food consumed, physical activity level, insulin sensitivity, and individual metabolism all play a role in how long it takes to lower blood sugar.
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate, however, it doesn’t increase blood sugar. It is important to note that even foods high in fiber can increase blood sugar. Whole grains, vegetables, and fruits are generally high in fiber. The A1C goal for most adults with diabetes is between 7% and 8%, but your goal may be different depending on your age, other health conditions, medicines you’re taking, and other factors. Work with your doctor to establish a personal A1C goal for you. DKA happens most in people with type 1 diabetes and is sometimes the first sign of type 1 in people who haven’t yet been diagnosed.
Having a friend or family member join you may help you stick to your routine. Carbohydrate counting, or carb counting, means planning and keeping track of the amount of carbs you eat and drink in each meal or snack. However, if you take insulin, counting carbs can help you know how much insulin to take. Making lifestyle changes can be hard, but starting with small changes and building from there may benefit your health. You may want to get help from family, loved ones, friends, and other trusted people in your community. You can also get information from your health care professionals.
Physical activity is the fastest way to lower your blood sugar without medication. Exercise lowers insulin resistance and helps your body convert glucose into energy. Be sure you talk to your healthcare provider about how much rapid-acting insulin you should take to bring down dangerously high BGL. People who have diabetes often give themselves insulin injections or use inhaled insulin to improve their blood sugar levels.
Diet and Exercise
Eating a balanced diet and engaging in regular physical activity can help lower blood sugar levels relatively quickly. Consuming foods high in fiber, protein, and healthy fats can help stabilize blood sugar levels. Similarly, engaging in exercise can help the body use up excess glucose, leading to a decrease in blood sugar levels.
Soluble dietary fiber appears to be more effective than insoluble fiber for this purpose. Plus, know that if you have trouble dedicating longer periods to exercise throughout the week, you can still gain many benefits by doing shorter sessions. For example, try aiming for 10-minute exercise sessions 3 times a day for 5 days, with the goal of 150 minutes per week. However, multiple factors can impair blood sugar management and lead to hyperglycemia. Kaitlyn Phoenix is a deputy editor in the Hearst Health Newsroom, where she reports, writes and edits research-backed health content for Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman’s Day.
Medication and Insulin
For individuals with diabetes, medications such as insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents can help lower blood sugar levels. The time it takes for these medications to start working and reduce blood sugar levels varies depending on the type of medication and individual response.
In conclusion, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how long it takes to lower blood sugar. It depends on various factors including diet, exercise, medication, and individual physiology. It is important to work with a healthcare provider to develop a personalized plan for managing blood sugar levels effectively.
