Understanding Blood Sugar and How to Control It

Your blood sugar (glucose) must fall within a specific range as much as possible. Low or high blood sugar can cause an array of health complications, and you’re especially at risk if you’re diabetic or prediabetic. 

Our offices at neXendo Wellness in Long Island City and Murray Hill, New York, offer clinical nutrition services including metabolic testing, nutrition counseling, and meal replacements to aid in helping you better understand and regulate your blood sugar. 

Endocrinologist Anastasios Manessis, MD, FACE, ECNU, ABOM, and registered dietician and personal trainer Brandon Caraballosa, MS, RD, CDN, CPT, are prepared to help you take control of your blood sugar and keep you in optimal overall health. 

The function of blood sugar

Blood sugar is your body’s main source of energy. Your cells use it for every body function. It comes from the foods you eat, especially carbohydrates like bread and fruit. It enters your blood after enzymes in your stomach break down those foods. The glucose relies on a hormone from the pancreas called insulin to get into your cells for use as energy.

A type of cell called a beta cell, also in the pancreas, automatically monitors how much glucose is in your blood so they can signal the release of insulin when it’s high. When you don’t eat for a few hours and your blood sugar levels get low, other cells in your pancreas signal your liver to release stored glucose.

If you’re diabetic, you either don’t make insulin, or your cells don’t respond to insulin as they should. Either way, the result is hyperglycemia or high blood sugar. 

The risks of glucose imbalances 

The longer you go with high blood sugar, the higher your risk becomes for organ damage. High blood sugar is associated with several health complications that often affect people with uncontrolled or undiagnosed diabetes. 

If your blood sugar is elevated for a prolonged period, you can experience:

• Neuropathy (nerve damage)
• Retinopathy (causing vision decline)
• Heart disease
• Heart attack 
• Stroke
• Kidney disease

Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can be the result of diabetes treatment. That is why monitoring your blood sugar using a meter is often an essential part of managing diabetes. There are other possible causes, too, like the overconsumption of alcohol.

The effects of low blood sugar can be risky, too. You can experience a rapid heart rate, shakiness, fatigue, and other symptoms. When you don’t address the issue, low blood sugar can lead to seizures, fainting, and death. 

What you can do to control your blood sugar

If you’re diabetic, you might get a glucometer (blood sugar meter) to regularly measure your blood sugar. Use it when you wake up, shortly before eating, about two hours after eating, and around the time you go to bed.

Naturally lowering your blood sugar requires following instructions from our team. You can better manage your blood sugar by:

• Exercising regularly
• Eating fewer carbs to prevent elevated glucose
• Eating more fiber, which slows glucose absorption
• Drinking plenty of water
• Controlling your mealtime portions
• Managing your stress

Our team can help you navigate your new regimen with blood sugar management in mind. 

Interested in learning what life changes you can make for better glucose control? Schedule your appointment with the experts at neXendo Wellness by phone or online right away.