Tips and More on How to Lower Blood Sugar Quickly?

This article discusses what are the indicators of high blood sugar, the reasons for it, and how to immediately lower blood sugar. Be aware that in some cases the best option is going to the ER or visiting a doctor.

Unbalanced glucose levels, affect more than 34 million individuals in the United States. This condition requires continual blood testing, careful evaluation of each meal, and preparation for sudden low blood sugar levels or sudden increases. With a good understanding of the condition and a lot of effort, people with diabetes can successfully manage it, but a lot of responsibility is in your hands.

Blood glucose levels must be controlled regardless of the kind of diabetes you have. This allows your body to perform at its optimum. If your blood sugar drops too low (hypoglycemia) or rises too high (hyperglycemia) and you don't treat it right away, the consequences can be serious. Because diabetes is a systemic condition, high blood sugar levels can accumulate over time, putting you at risk for eye difficulties, kidney problems, nerve problems, foot problems, and heart problems.

What are the indicators that my blood sugar is high?

There are certain physical indicators that suggest high blood glucose if you don't have a glucometer. Unfortunately, since diabetes affects practically every area of the body, the symptoms can be quite different. Some common symptoms of high blood sugar are:

• Increased urination;
• Increased thirst;
• Dizziness;
• Fatigue;
• Blurry vision.

A glucometer is an instrument used in medicine to estimate the levels of blood glucose. It's an important part of diabetic's home blood glucose monitoring.  These analyze a little bit of blood, generally from the tip of a finger.  Blood sugar meters show you how high or low your blood sugar is currently. However, because blood sugar levels fluctuate, you must test and keep track of them frequently. Learn here what are the ideal blood sugar levels and what level of sugar is dangerous?

Regularly measuring and recording your blood glucose level will help you stay on track with your healthy lifestyle choices while also letting you know how you're reacting to other factors. Importantly, variations in blood glucose level patterns might alert you and your healthcare team to the need for a change in how you're managing your diabetes.

In case your glucometer is reading blood sugar levels of 300 mg/dL or higher, be prepared to take emergency measures. If you have two readings of 300 or more in a row, talk to your doctor. If you're concerned about any signs of high blood sugar, contact your doctor. Professionals can provide guidance and assurance.

What to do when blood sugar is high?

Treatment for high blood sugar levels entails addressing the underlying causes. Your healthcare team will provide you with detailed instructions on how to treat high blood sugar levels. However, there are a few approaches to take when addressing the most prevalent reason for high blood sugar:

Stress

When the body is under stress, the adrenal glands cause glucose deposited in numerous organs to be released, resulting in high blood sugar levels in the circulation. Stress is sometimes misunderstood as an emotional issue that manifests as anxiety, worry, or sadness. However, stress may take many forms, including physical, nutritional, and chemical. Here are some helpful hints for lowering stress:

Even if it's only a brief stroll around the block during your lunch break, any form of physical exercise is beneficial.

• Talking to a helpful friend, coworker, or church member about meditation or yoga.
• Allowing yourself to be patient with yourself—give yourself a break and try not to be so hard on yourself.
• Doing something enjoyable, such as taking up a hobby or reading.
• Consuming nutritious meals.
• Caffeine and alcohol usage should be reduced or eliminated.
• Check your blood sugar levels in continuity.
• Getting adequate rest.

Not sticking to a healthy diet

Sticking to a healthy food regime is hard. Not persisting with a proper diet can cause your blood sugar to rise or drop. Make sure that any necessary changes to your food plan are made with the help of a trained nutritionist.

What foods can lower your blood sugar quickly?

Although nutrition plays an important part in controlling blood sugar levels, there are no foods that can immediately regulate blood sugar levels. You may, however, add things that will make your diet a helpful tool for maintaining a healthy blood sugar level, and that way you will avoid high blood sugar outbursts. A balanced diabetic meal plan includes a variety of nutrients in appropriate amounts. Some meals that can help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level should be:

• Rich in magnesium and chromium;
• With a low glycemic index;
• High fiber and whole-grain foods.

Inadequate insulin dose or other diabetic medications

The insulin dose is very varied and mostly dependent on the individual patient. Doctors must be knowledgeable of insulin dose protocols and identify when modifications are needed for the greatest results. Knowing a patient's medicines is a crucial step in ensuring safety and reducing risk.

Always make sure you're using the right type of insulin and getting the right dose at the right time.  Make sure your insulin isn't over its expiration date.  Check that all of the equipment like a pump, meters, and others are in working order.  Check with your diabetic health care team if any of your diabetes medications need to be replaced or altered.

Using different medications that can raise blood sugar levels

There are 372 medications that interact with insulin, with 15 significant, 316 moderate, and 41 minor interactions identified. Some of them are:

• Acetylsalicylic Acid (aspirin);
• Aspirin Low Strength (aspirin);
• Ativan (lorazepam);
• Coumadin (warfarin);
• Crestor (rosuvastatin);
• Fish Oil (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids);
• Lantus (insulin glargine);
• Lasix (furosemide).

How do I lower my blood sugar quickly in an emergency?

If your blood sugar levels become too high, it might lead to significant issues if you don't take action quickly. If you have hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), make sure it doesn't become too high and that the levels return to normal as soon as possible. These are the best ways to lower your blood sugar:

Take insulin

Taking insulin is one of the quickest strategies to combat hyperglycemia. Before dosing yourself with insulin to lower your blood sugar levels, make sure you talk to your doctor. Check your blood sugar after 15-30 minutes and consult with your medical care adviser about the dose of rapid-acting insulin.

Take your diabetic medicine if you haven't already

If you forgot to take your prescribed treatment, your blood sugar will very surely rise. People with diabetes should persist with taking prescribed medication to keep blood glucose levels in check. Just remember that drugs like Metformin take longer to function than insulin, especially if you haven't taken it in a while or haven't been taking it as regularly as you should.

Hydrate

While you're getting your insulin and/or medicine under control, you should also pay attention to your hydration. Instead of juice, drink plenty of water and stay hydrated. This is because diabetic ketoacidosis is characterized by dehydration. Once your blood sugar levels are high, your body is trying to get rid of it. So it releases it into your urine with a lot of water in an attempt to cleanse it out. People with high blood sugars are frequently dehydrated, and drinking enough water helps cleanse the system as well as dilute the quantity of blood glucose in the blood. Learn more about drinking water and diabetes here.

Try out light exercise

If you don't feel nausea and have insulin in your system, go for a walk around the neighborhood. Any sort of aerobic activity can aid with blood glucose control. Multiple studies show that walking for 20 minutes at a moderate intensity after a meal will lower blood glucose levels by 20 to 30%. This works because you're forcing your muscles to burn more glucose as a source of energy. What's the result? The amount of glucose floating around in your circulation is reduced. It's crucial to note, however, that exercise is only beneficial if you have insulin in your system. It would be a bad idea for someone who is on the verge of diabetic ketoacidosis to exercise.

How long does it take to bring high blood sugar down with and without medication?

When your blood glucose levels become too high, using fast-acting insulin is the quickest method to decrease it. If you are wondering how to lower your blood sugar down without medication, a quick and efficient strategy is to exercise. Although there isn't enough data to back this up, some publications claim that drinking water or having a high-protein snack will swiftly drop blood sugar levels.

In some circumstances, rather than dealing with it at home, you should go to the hospital to lower your blood sugar. When insulin levels are low, high blood sugar can result in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This is a life-threatening situation for people with diabetes. Some of the signs and symptoms of DKA could manifest like:

• breathing problems;
• a fruity odor in the mouth; 
• nausea and vomiting;
• extremely dry mouth.

When to seek help from a doctor?

Ketone sticks should be carried by everyone with type 1 diabetes at all times. If their blood sugars become too high or they become ill, they should check their urine for ketones, and if they find any, they should visit a doctor or go to urgent care. If you feel very unwell, have nausea, vomiting, severe stomach pain, disorientation, or difficulties thinking clearly, you should get medical help, whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. If you check your blood sugar and see that it's substantially higher than you're used to, and it's not responding to any of your regular treatments, such as drinking water or taking insulin, you should seek medical attention and talk with a doctor.