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12 Simple Tips To Prevent Blood Sugar Spikes
12 Simple Tips To Prevent Blood Sugar Spikes
NEWSLETTER
Blood sugar spikes occur when your blood sugar rises and then falls
sharply after you eat.
In the short term, they can cause lethargy and hunger. Over time, your
body may not be able to lower blood sugar effectively, which can lead to
type 2 diabetes.
Blood sugar spikes can also cause your blood vessels to harden and
narrow, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
This article looks at 12 simple things you can do to prevent blood sugar
spikes.
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1. Go Low-Carb
Carbohydrates (carbs) are what causeAblood
D V E R T I S Esugar
MENT to rise.
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When you eat carbs, they are broken down into simple sugars. Those
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sugars then enter the bloodstream.
As your blood sugar levels rise, your pancreas releases a hormone called
insulin, which prompts your cells to absorb sugar from the blood. This
causes your blood sugar levels to drop.
Many studies have shown that consuming a low-carb diet can help
prevent blood sugar spikes (2, 3, 4, 5).
Low-carb diets also have the added benefit of aiding weight loss, which
can also reduce blood sugar spikes (6, 7, 8, 9).
There are lots of ways to reduce your carb intake, including counting
carbs. Here's a guide on how to do it.
SUMMARY:
A low-carb diet can help prevent blood sugar spikes and aid
weight loss. Counting carbs can also help.
Some common sources of refined carbs are table sugar, white bread,
white rice, soda, candy, breakfast cereals and desserts.
Refined carbs are said to have a high glycemic index because they are
very easily and quickly digested by the body. This leads to blood sugar
spikes.
A large observational study of more than 91,000 women found that a diet
high in high-glycemic-index carbs was associated with an increase in type
2 diabetes (10).
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The spike in blood sugar and subsequent drop you may experience after
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eating high-glycemic-index foods can also promote hunger and can lead
to overeating and weight gain (11).
SUMMARY:
Refined carbs have almost no nutritional value and increase the
risk of type 2 diabetes and weight gain.
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You have no nutritional need for added sugar like sucrose and high-
fructose corn syrup. They are, in effect, just empty calories.
Your body breaks these simple sugars down very easily, causing an
almost immediate spike in blood sugar.
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This is when the cells fail to respond as they should to the release of
insulin, resulting in the body not being able to control blood sugar
effectively (13, 14).
In 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changed the way
foods have to be labeled in the US. Foods now have to display the
amount of added sugars they contain in grams and as a percentage of the
recommended daily maximum intake.
SUMMARY:
Sugar is effectively empty calories. It causes an immediate blood
sugar spike and high intake is associated with insulin resistance.
Being overweight or obese can make it more difficult for your body to use
insulin and control blood sugar levels.
This can lead to blood sugar spikes and a corresponding higher risk of
developing type 2 diabetes.
The precise ways it works are still unclear, but there's lots of evidence
linking obesity to insulin resistance and the development of type 2
diabetes (16, 17, 18).
Weight loss, on the other hand, has been shown to improve blood sugar
control.
In one study, 35 obese people lost an average of 14.5 pounds (6.6 kg)
over 12 weeks while they were on a diet of 1,600 calories a day. Their
blood sugar dropped by an average of 14% (19).
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SUMMARY:
Being overweight makes it difficult for your body to control blood
sugar levels. Even losing a little weight can improve your blood
sugar control.
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5. Exercise More
Exercise helps control blood sugar spikes by increasing the sensitivity of
your cells to the hormone insulin.
Exercise also causes muscle cells to absorb sugar from the blood, helping
to lower blood sugar levels (21).
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Increasing exercise also has the added benefit of helping with weight
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loss, a double whammy to combat blood sugar spikes.
SUMMARY:
Exercise increases insulin sensitivity and stimulates cells to
remove sugar from the blood.
Fiber can also make you feel full, reducing your appetite and food intake
(26).
Oatmeal
Nuts
Legumes
SUMMARY:
Fiber can slow the absorption of carbs and the release of sugar
into the blood. It can also reduce appetite and food intake.
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It also prompts your liver to release more sugar into the blood (27, 28,
29).
One study of 3,615 people found that those who drank at least 34 ounces
(about 1 liter) of water a day were 21% less likely to develop high blood
sugar than those who drank 16 ounces (473 ml) or less a day (28).
A long-term study on 4,742 people in Sweden found that, over 12.6 years,
an increase of vasopressin in the blood was linked to an increase in
insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (30).
How much water you should drink is often up for discussion. Essentially, it
depends on the individual.
Always make sure you drink as soon as you're thirsty and increase your
water intake during hot weather or while exercising.
Stick to water rather than sugary juice or sodas, since the sugar content
will lead to blood sugar spikes.
SUMMARY:
Dehydration negatively affects blood sugar control. Over time, it
can lead to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
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Another study looked into the effect of vinegar on blood sugar after
participants consumed carbs. It found that vinegar increased insulin
sensitivity by between 19% and 34% (37).
The addition of vinegar can also lower the glycemic index of a food, which
can help reduce blood sugar spikes.
A study in Japan found that adding pickled foods to rice decreased the
glycemic index of the meal significantly (38).
SUMMARY:
Vinegar has been shown to increase insulin response and help
control blood sugar when taken with carbs.
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Chromium
It is thought to enhance the action of insulin. This could help control blood
sugar spikes by encouraging the cells to absorb sugar from the blood.
In one small study, 13 healthy men were given 75 grams of white bread
with or without chromium added. The addition of chromium resulted in
about a 20% reduction in blood sugar following the meal (39).
Recommended dietary intakes for chromium can be found here. Rich food
sources include broccoli, egg yolks, shellfish, tomatoes and Brazil nuts.
Magnesium
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SUMMARY:
Chromium and magnesium may help increase insulin sensitivity.
Evidence shows they may be more effective together.
Cinnamon
The scientific evidence for the use of cinnamon in blood sugar control is
mixed.
It found that eating 6 grams of cinnamon with 300 grams of rice pudding
significantly reduced blood sugar spikes, compared to eating the pudding
alone (45).
However, there are also studies that show cinnamon has no effect on
blood sugar.
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The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has set the tolerable daily
intake of coumarin at 0.045 mg per pound of body weight (0.1mg/kg). This
is around half a teaspoon (1 gram) of Cassia cinnamon for a 165-pound
(75-kg) person (48).
Fenugreek
One of the properties of fenugreek is that the seeds are high in soluble
fiber.
This helps prevent blood sugar spikes by slowing down the digestion and
absorption of carbs.
However, it appears that blood sugar levels may benefit from more than
just the seeds.
Fenugreek may help reduce blood sugar spikes. It can be added to food,
but it does have quite a strong taste, so some people prefer to take it as a
supplement.
SUMMARY:
Both cinnamon and fenugreek are relatively safe. They may have
beneficial effects on your blood sugar if you take them with a
meal that contains carbs.
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One study looked at 116 people with type 2 diabetes who either received
berberine or a placebo for three months. Berberine reduced blood sugar
spikes after a meal by 25% (58).
SUMMARY:
Berberine has minimal side effects and studies have shown it can
reduce blood sugar spikes by 25% after you eat it.
Stress
It has also been shown to affect blood sugar. As stress levels go up, your
body releases certain hormones. The effect is to release stored energy in
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the form of sugar into your bloodstream for the fight-or-flight response
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(60).
Actively addressing stress has also been found to benefit your blood
sugar. In a study of nursing students, yoga exercises were found to
reduce stress and blood sugar spikes following a meal (62).
Sleep
Both too little and too much sleep have been associated with poor blood
sugar control.
A study in 4,870 adults with type 2 diabetes found those who slept for the
longest or shortest durations had the poorest blood sugar control. The
best control was found in those who slept between 6.5 and 7.4 hours a
night (63).
Even having one or two bad nights can affect your blood sugar levels.
A study of nine healthy people showed that sleeping too little, or only for
4 hours, increased insulin resistance and blood sugar levels (64).
Alcohol
Alcoholic drinks often contain a lot of added sugar. This is particularly true
for mixed drinks and cocktails, which can contain up to 30 grams of sugar
per serving.
The sugar in alcoholic drinks will cause blood sugar spikes in the same
way as added sugar in food. Most alcoholic drinks also have little or no
nutritional value. As with added sugar, they are effectively empty calories.
One study found that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol with meals
may reduce blood sugar spikes by up to 37% (70).
SUMMARY:
Poor sleep, stress and high alcohol intake all negatively affect
blood sugar. That's why it is important to consider lifestyle
interventions as well as diet.
That said, if you have any medical conditions or are on any medications,
speak to your doctor before making any changes to your diet.
For most people, making these simple diet and lifestyle changes is a
great way to lower your risk of developing insulin resistance or type 2
diabetes.
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Fruits are very nutritious and contain lots of fiber and antioxidants.
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However, some people think they can be harmful because of the sugar in
them.
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