How To Bring Blood Sugar Down Fast If Over 250

Not A Replacement For Doctor

These are temporary measures for lowering your glucose level and should not be used as a replacement for doctor-prescribed treatment.

Keep your blood sugar levels within acceptable levels by taking appropriate medication, regular exercise, plenty of water and a healthy diet monitored by your diabetic counselor.

Eat The Right Carbohydrates

The two main kinds of carbohydrates simple and complex affect blood sugar levels differently.

Simple carbohydrates are mainly made up of one kind of sugar. They are found in foods, such as white bread, pasta, and candy. The body breaks these carbohydrates down into sugar very quickly, which causes blood sugar levels to rise rapidly.

Complex carbohydrates are made up of three or more sugars that are linked together. Because the chemical makeup of these kinds of carbohydrates is complicated, it takes the body longer to break them down.

As a result, sugar is released into the body more gradually, meaning that blood sugar levels do not rapidly rise after eating them. Examples of complex carbohydrates include whole grain oats and sweet potatoes.

Q: How Do I Lower My Blood Sugar When It Goes Over 200 Mg/dl I Have Type 2 Diabetes

A: An excellent question, but a complicated one to answer. Your doctor or nurse educator should be contacted any time your blood sugar runs consistently higher than 250 mg/dl for more than two days. When a person with Type 2 diabetes encounters a high blood sugar, the strategy used in bringing it down will vary from individual to individual. This is because of the differences in treatment concerning diet, exercise, and medication. It will also depend upon the guidelines for glucose control that you and your doctor have mutually agreed upon.

When high blood sugars do occur, there are a number of strategies that can be employed to adjust the glucose level back down to a normal range. These might include:

1) Eating less food at the next meal, eliminating a snack and/or eating foods with a lower glycemic index.

A general rule of thumb to follow is decreasing 15 grams of carbohydrate will lower blood glucose by 30 mg/dl. If you test your blood sugar at 182 mg/dl before a meal or snack, then eliminate one starch and one cup milk at the next meal to bring the glucose value as close to 120 mg/dl as a baseline. Although people with diabetes will respond differently to this adjustment, it provides a basic guideline to start with.

2) Increasing activity or incorporating more exercise.

3) Increasing, changing medications, and/or administering them more frequently.

4) Relaxation techniques and behavioral management.

5) Treating identified illness and/or infections.

Help full links:

Also Check: What Supplement Curbs Sugar Cravings

Should You Skip A Meal If Your Blood Glucose Is High

Related Articles

• Does Eating Protein With Carbs Lower Glucose Readings?

High blood glucose levels can damage the small arteries and nerves in your eyes, kidneys, heart, brain and feet over time. If you have diabetes, high blood sugar is defined as higher than 130 mg/dL when fasting and above 180 mg/dL two hours after eating, unless your doctor has specified a different target for you. Managing your blood glucose levels closely is the key to healthy living with diabetes.

Tip

If your blood glucose levels are high, don’t skip a meal rather, try to understand the causes behind your high reading and do some damage control by eating healthy and exercising.

What Causes The Blood Sugar Levels Go To High

Our bodies need sugar to make energy for the cells. Without it, we cannot do basic functions. When we eat foods with glucose, insulin pairs with it to allow it to enter into the cell wall. If the insulin is not there, then the glucose molecule cant get through the wall and cannot be used. The extra glucose hangs out in the bloodstream which is literally high blood sugar.

The lack of insulin can be caused by two different things.

• First, you can have decreased insulin resistance which means that your insulin doesnt react the way that it is supposed to. It doesnt partner with glucose to be used as fuel.
• Secondly, you can have no insulin, which is the case with type 1 diabetes.

Regardless of how it is caused, it is imperative to control blood sugars to help prevent problems.

Recommended Reading: Can Low Blood Sugar Cause You To Blackout

Simple Strategies For Blood Sugar Control

Looking for ways to rein in your blood sugar? Prevent your levels from going too low or too high with these tips.

Thinkstock

Maintaining good blood sugar control might take dedication and time, but making it a priority can help you avoid or delay serious complications of type 2 diabetes.

Managing type 2 diabetes is a long war, not a battle won within a month or two, says Sethu K. Reddy, MD, MBA, chief of the adult diabetes section at Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, Massachusetts.

What Are The Symptoms Of High Blood Sugar Levels

Many of us might be suffering from high blood sugar levels. But due to a lack of knowledge, we are not able to correlate the symptoms with the right disease. Persistent ignorance of the symptoms of the disease leads to significant health issues. Hence, it is essential to know the signs of high blood sugar levels to get the right treatment at the right time.

Here are some of the symptoms which you may experience when you have high sugar levels in your blood:

Read Also: How To Beat Sugar Cravings On Keto Diet

Blood Sugar: When Its Too Low Or Too High

The hormone insulin takes sugar from food and uses it for energy. With type 2 diabetes, you dont have enough insulin or your body isnt effective at using insulin, and excess sugar continues to circulate in your bloodstream.

A target blood sugar range for most people with type 2 diabetes is 80 to 130 milligrams per deciliter before a meal and less than 180 mg/dl one to two hours after starting a meal, according to the American Diabetes Association.

A reading of 160 mg/dl or higher is typically considered high blood sugar . Over time, blood sugar in the range of 160 to 250 mg/dl can affect every organ in your body, Dr. Reddy says. It’s associated with heart disease, eye disease, kidney disease, neuropathy, stroke, and vascular disease. If blood sugar goes as high as 500 mg/dl, you may experience symptoms such as thirst, the urge to urinate more often, weight loss, low energy, and drowsiness, he says.

Low blood sugar occurs when levels fall to less than 70 mg/dl. This is a risk when you take insulin or other diabetes medications, have gone too long without a meal, have been active, or have been drinking alcohol.

If your blood sugar goes too low, youll probably feel shaky and sweaty and you may develop tremors, Reddy says. Other symptoms may include a racing heart, headache, weakness, confusion, hunger, irritability, lack of coordination, and pale skin. If your blood sugar continues to drop to 30 mg/dl and below, you could slip into a diabetic coma.

Improving Blood Sugar Control

Good blood sugar control can help you avoid the symptoms and complications of going too high or low. Youll also feel better and have more energy, says Rasa Kazlauskaite, MD, medical director of the Rush University Prevention Center in Chicago, Illinois, and associate professor in the department of preventive medicine and internal medicine.

Get started with these 10 tips to help you rein in your blood sugar and better manage type 2 diabetes:

1. Stick to your medication plan. There are many drugs to help control blood sugar, Reddy says. Taking your medication as directed is vital don’t skip doses.

2. Eat on schedule. Eating healthy meals at about the same time every day helps keep blood sugar steady. Also, meal routines and consistency help to avoid severe hunger and help medications work better, Dr. Kazlauskaite says.

3. Distribute carbohydrates throughout the day. Make it a goal to eat two to four carbohydrate servings about 30 to 60 grams per meal, says Margaret Powers, PhD, RD, CDE, president-elect of health care and education for the American Diabetes Association and a research scientist at Park Nicollet Health Services International Diabetes Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Because carbohydrates raise your blood sugar, spacing them out can help keep your levels in a healthy range.

9. Make it a family affair. Reddy suggests recruiting family members to eat healthy and exercise with you so it feels more like fun than a task.

You May Like: Do Cancer Cells Thrive On Sugar

What Should Your Blood Sugar Be When You Wake Up

The goal of diabetes management is to keep your blood sugar levels as stable as possible. This means that when you wake up, you want your glucose to be in range and to stay in range throughout the day.

For many people with diabetes, the overall target glucose range is between 70 mg/dL to 180 mg/dL . To start the day strong, the American Diabetes Association recommends that you aim to wake up with glucose levels between 80 to 130 mg/dL. Talk with your healthcare team about your glucose targets.

Q How To Reduce Sugar Level Home Remedies

Answer: There are many simple home remedies you can make easily to help you combat high blood sugar. You can find various uses and recipes of apple cider vinegar, aloe vera, cinnamon, berberine, fenugreek seeds, etc. which have shown to be effective against diabetes. But be warned that herbal or home-made solutions are no alternative to medical advice and medication.

Read Also: How To Stop My Sugar Addiction

Here Are 4 Ways To Lower Your Blood Sugar Fast :

• Chugging water. Drinking a lot of water quickly will dilute your blood sugar and cause you to urinate a lot of it out. Do not drink a lot of water if you have any type of kidney problems or heart problems.
• Increasing your heart rate for 15 minutes can maximize your insulin response and drop your blood sugar down. Be sure to check your blood sugar when you are finished.
• Eat a snack that is high in protein. Protein stabilizes blood sugar. Make sure that the food doesnt have a lot of sugar in it. Good choices are cheese or almonds.
• Administer a quick-acting insulin if your doctor has prescribed it, such as . Insulin is a very rapid way to lower your sugar. Be sure to check your level about 30 minutes after you administer the insulin to see if it prevented the hypoglycemia.

With any of these quick remedies, it is imperative to have a snack handy in case your blood sugar drops too low. Always discuss any plans that you have with your physician.

How can you reduce your blood sugar levels naturally without medications?

Like I mentioned above, diet and exercise are the two ways that you can to lower blood sugar. Did you know that losing just 5 pounds can reduce your need for medications or insulin?

Foods that you should consume should include lots of lean meats, fruits, and vegetables. Read on for more details about how exercise and a healthy diet can lower your sugar.

How can exercise lower my blood sugar?

Exercise can help lower your blood sugar in two ways:

What Are Normal Blood Glucose Levels In Healthy Individuals

Blood sugar levels can either be normal, high, or low, depending on how much glucose someone has in their bloodstream. Glucose is a simple sugar thats present in the bloodstream at all times. Normal blood glucose levels can be measured when someone fasts, eats, or after theyve eaten. A normal blood glucose level for adults, without diabetes, who havent eaten for at least eight hours is less than 100 mg/dL. A normal blood glucose level for adults, without diabetes, two hours after eating is 90 to 110 mg/dL.

Many factors affect blood sugar levels throughout the day:

• Type of food consumed, how much, and when
• Physical activity
• Menstrual periods
• Alcohol

An ideal blood sugar level for anyone without diabetes or prediabetes, regardless of age, in the morning should be less than 100 mg/dL. Remember, blood sugar levels can fluctuate throughout the day as a result of the factors previously mentioned.

Also Check: What To Do About High Blood Sugar In The Morning

How To Lower Morning Blood Sugar

Whether a morning high is caused by the dawn phenomenon or something else, here are a few things you can try to lower your blood sugar levels:

• Physical activity when you wake up can help bring your glucose level down. Even going for a walk can be helpful.

• To learn about exercise guidelines and glucose management strategies, click here.

• Read Adam Browns take on walking the most underrated diabetes exercise strategy.

This article is part of a series on time in range.

Drink Drink Drink Some Water

Dehydration can cause high blood sugars, which means getting hydrated can help prevent and reduce high blood sugars.

Your blood consists partly of water. When you dont drink enough water throughout the day, the other things in your blood become more concentrated! And thus, higher blood sugar levels.

You know that uncomfortable thirst you feel when your blood sugars are high? Give in to it. This is how your body helps flush excess sugar out through your urine, and how you replenish the necessary fluid balance in your bloodstream.

Also Check: Why Is My Blood Sugar High When I Wake Up

Easy Ways To Lower Blood Sugar Levels Naturally

High blood sugar occurs when your body doesnt make enough or effectively use insulin, a hormone that regulates blood glucose and helps it enter your cells for energy.

High blood sugar is associated with diabetes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 13% of U.S. adults live with diabetes, and 34.5% have prediabetes (

This means close to 50% of all U.S. adults have diabetes or prediabetes.

Here are 15 easy ways to lower blood sugar levels naturally:

Signs That Blood Sugar Levels Are High

People with high blood sugar may:

• pee a lot. When blood sugar levels get too high, the kidneys flush out the extra glucose into your urine , which is why people who have high blood sugar levels need to pee more often and in larger amounts.
• drink a lot. Because you’re losing so much fluid from peeing so much, you can get very thirsty.
• lose weight. If there isn’t enough insulin to help the body use glucose, the body starts to break down your muscle and fat for energy and you lose weight.
• feel tired. Because the body can’t use glucose for energy properly, you may feel really tired.

High blood sugar levels don’t always cause these symptoms. Sometimes you can have high blood sugar levels without even knowing it. But if left untreated, they can cause serious health problems. That’s why it’s important to work with your parents and diabetes team to keep your blood sugar levels in a healthy range. This can mean checking your blood sugar levels a few times a day, even when you feel fine.

Page 2

Read Also: What Are The Warning Signs Of High Blood Sugar

Can Oral Diabetes Medications Lower Blood Sugar Quickly

Oral diabetes medications, though they can help increase ones insulin sensitivity, will not bring blood sugar down quickly. You should never take an extra dose of your oral diabetes medication, thinking that it will help bring your blood sugar down faster.

However, if you have missed a dose of your medication, this could explain why you might be having hyperglycemia. Following your doctors orders for what you should do if you miss a dose should be part of the process of bringing your blood sugar down.

Check Your Blood Sugar

If you take medication that may cause low blood sugar , its highly advisable to check your blood sugar levels before you try to bring your sugar levels down.

This is just in case your blood sugar is normal or low, which can be the case in some situations.

Testing of blood sugar before bringing your levels down is particularly important if you take insulin.

Recommended Reading: How Do You Keep Your Blood Sugar Down

Low Blood Sugar Symptoms

Hypoglycemia happens when blood glucose levels drop too low. Low blood sugar can be caused by many things including the two different types of diabetes, certain medications, alcohol, endocrine disorders, eating disorders, pregnancy , and disorders of the liver, kidneys, or heart.

Here are some of the most common symptoms that someone with low blood sugar might experience:

• Lightheadedness
• Fainting
• Tingling lips

If your blood sugar is low you might start to feel some of the first signs of hypoglycemia like dizziness, lightheadedness, or sweating. The only way to know for sure if your blood sugar is low is to test it with a glucose meter or other glucose monitoring device.

If you dont have access to these tools and start to feel the symptoms of low blood sugar, consume 15 grams of carbs or take a quick dissolve glucose tablet to raise your blood sugar levels and avoid further symptoms, according to the American Diabetes Association . Once your blood sugar is back in its target range, you can have a snack or meal to make sure it doesnt drop again.

Here are some other lifestyle and medicinal treatments that can help treat hypoglycemia:

• Eat a healthy diet full of whole foods that are minimally processed.
• Take prediabetes or diabetes medications as recommended by your healthcare provider.
• Use a glucagon kit in emergencies. Glucagon is a hormone that raises blood sugar levels quickly.