How can i raise my blood sugar quickly

Oct. 20, 2021

For patients with diabetes, monitoring blood sugar levels is a part of daily life.

Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can occur for many people with diabetes who are on certain medications, including insulin and sulfonylureas. It can occur for a variety of reasons including skipping a meal, exercising strenuously, taking too much insulin or consuming alcohol, especially on an empty stomach.

Low blood sugar can be as minor as a slight inconvenience or as serious as a life-threatening emergency. That’s why it is important to boost blood sugar before it becomes problematic.

Angela Norton, a diabetes educator at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, has diabetes herself, so she knows firsthand the tips and tricks of keeping blood sugar on track. Although blood glucose is considered normal if above 70 mg/dL, Norton says patients with diabetes should not wait until they reach below that threshold to take action.

“Treat when you feel the symptoms, even if your blood sugar is not below 70, because as long as it is less than 100, it may be dropping fast,” she says.

When it comes to treatment, Norton shares these five foods to help boost low blood sugar.

1. Candy
When hypoglycemia occurs, patients should follow the 15-15 rule. Consume 15 grams of carbohydrates to raise blood glucose and check your levels again after 15 minutes. When the numbers return to normal, eat a snack to stay on track.

Gummy candies contain carbohydrates, which have a large impact on blood sugar levels.

“Simple sugar-based foods absorb rapidly into the bloodstream after you eat them and can raise your blood sugar within five to 15 minutes,” says Norton.

She recommends eating between 15 and 30 grams of carbohydrates to help increase blood sugar. When it comes to candy, she suggests eating one of the following portions: 12 gummy bears, five ring-shaped candies, 15 hard-shelled fruit-flavored candies, four chewy fruit candies or six large jelly beans.

2. Fresh or dried fruit
Fruits that provide the appropriate amount of carbohydrates include half a banana, 15 grapes, two tablespoons of raisins or a small apple or orange.

3. Fruit juice
Fruit juice can also boost blood sugar levels. Norton suggests half a cup (4 ounces ) of your favorite fruit juice, such as apple, orange, pineapple or cranberry juice.

4. Fat-free milk
Milk contains vitamin D and carbohydrates, so Norton suggests drinking one cup of fat-free milk when your glucose levels start to drop.

5. Honey
“Having one tablespoon of honey or jam as a snack after your blood sugar dips is a good way to balance out blood glucose levels,” says Norton.

Norton says it’s important for patients to find the snacks that work best for them. “There are many other foods you can use, and each person finds their own favorite. Mine are little bags of organic fruity snacks that have 17 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates in each pouch,” she says.

Sharp HealthCare offers diabetes education classes that cover a wide range of topics — including nutrition, exercise and medications — that empower people with diabetes to improve their overall wellness.

People with diabetes aren’t the only ones who need to lower their blood sugar levels.

The American Diabetes Association says 1 in 3 American adults has prediabetes, which means their blood glucose (sugar) level is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Both conditions are caused by insulin dysregulation, namely insulin resistance.

In healthy people, insulin is the hormone that helps stimulate cells to use the glucose (sugar) in the blood. When cells are constantly exposed to high levels of insulin, they become less sensitive to its effects, resulting in insulin resistance. This leads to a variety of metabolic problems including systemic inflammation. Dietary factors, sedentary lifestyle and stress can all cause blood glucose (sugar) and insulin levels to be chronically elevated, leading to insulin resistance.

Fortunately, this process is often very reversible. Here are four steps to help you lower blood sugar, improve insulin sensitivity, and either reverse or prevent diabetes.

Focus on a balanced, lower glycemic diet.

What and how much you eat is an extremely important factor in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.

• To help you regulate your insulin levels, limit the total carbohydrates you eat and choose more whole food forms of carbohydrates instead of processed or refined ones. Choose whole grains like steel-cut or rolled oats, brown rice, quinoa and barley instead of flour products like breads, pastas and crackers. Enjoy beans, legumes and starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes and squash. 
• Consume adequate omega-3 fats, which are found in greatest quantities in cold-water fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, herring, tuna, sardines) and plants like flax seed, walnuts, chia seeds and soybeans.
• Choose a high-quality protein at every meal, such as lean meats, omega-3 rich fish, eggs and legumes or beans.
• Consume 35 or more grams of fiber per day.
• Eat meals at regular intervals, every three to five hours, throughout the day, and generally avoid snacking.

Manage stress.

Stress can elevate levels of cortisol, one of our body’s main stress hormones, which can increase blood sugar and insulin levels. Cortisol also increases secretion of leptin, a hormone that plays a role in appetite control. Leptin secretion can reduce satiety and make you feel more hungry.

Get a good sweat at least four days a week.

All exercise is beneficial for overall health and managing blood sugar levels. However, a moderately vigorous effort, such as brisk walking or running, for at least 30-40 minutes four times a week can significantly benefit insulin regulation and blood sugar levels.

Use supplements strategically.

Taking high-quality, well-researched botanical or nutrient supplements can help increase insulin sensitivity and decrease blood sugar levels. As always, consult a qualified health care practitioner before starting any new supplements, especially if you are taking medications. Consider these supplements to help support your better blood sugar regimen:

• Omega-3 fatty acids increase insulin sensitivity.
• Vitamin D counters its deficiency linked to insulin dysfunction.
• Magnesium helps activate insulin receptors
• Alpha lipoic acid increases your body’s use of glucose (blood sugar).
• Cinnamon decreases the rise in glucose (blood sugar) after a meal.

What is dangerously low blood sugar?

How long does it take to bring up your blood sugar?

How can I raise my blood sugar quickly unresponsive?

What is the best snack for low blood sugar?