What are blood sugar levels?
Blood sugar (or blood glucose) levels tell you how much sugar (glucose) is in your blood at a given time. When you eat food, especially things like bread, rice, fruit, or sugar, your body breaks it down into glucose, which is your body’s main source of energy.
What is the normal blood sugar range?
Healthy blood sugar levels for an adult are generally between 4.0 and 5.5 mmol/L before meals and below 7.8 mmol/L two hours after eating. At any random time of the day, blood sugar should usually stay between 4.0 and 7.8 mmol/L. Keeping your blood sugar within this range helps your body function properly, keeps your energy levels steady, and reduces the risk of long-term health problems.
Your body controls blood sugar with a hormone called insulin.
Insulin helps move sugar from your blood into your cells, where it’s used for energy. If your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it properly, your blood sugar stays too high, which is what happens in diabetes.
Why are blood sugar levels important?
Your body needs just the right amount of sugar in your blood.
Too little, and you can feel tired, shaky, or even faint (this is called low blood sugar or hypoglycemia).
Too much, and it can damage your blood vessels, nerves, and organs over time (this is called high blood sugar or hyperglycemia).
Think of your body like a 5 liter jug of water. The average adult has 5 liters of blood in their body, and in a healthy adult their blood contains a teaspoon of glucose. Someone with type 2 diabetes will have 2 teaspoons.
What does high blood sugar do to your body?
Consistent high blood sugar, as experienced by people with type 2 diabetes, causes slow damage to many parts of the body. But what does it damage and where?
- Brain and mind: increased risks of strokes and memory problems.
- Eyes: damages the tiny blood vessels in your eyes and may cause blurry vision or even blindness (called diabetic retinopathy).
- Heart: raises the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and high blood pressure.
- Feet: poor blood flow and nerve damage can lead to numbness, sores, or worst case, amputation.
- Nerves: nerve damage (called neuropathy), which can make you feel tingling, burning, or pain – often in your hands and feet.
- Kidneys: can damage the kidneys’ filters leading to kidney failure.
How does high sugar cause damage to your body?
High sugar in your blood acts like tiny crystals or acid; it can hurt your blood vessels and nerves little by little, especially if not treated.
What causes high blood sugar?
- Eating too much sugar or carbohydrates.
- Lack of exercise.
- Stress.
- Illness or infections.
- Some medications like steroids.
- Not enough insulin absorption, like in type 1 and type 2 diabetics.
- Skipping, taking too much or too little of your diabetes medication.
How can I naturally control my blood sugar levels?
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Eat Balanced, Low GI Meals
- Whole grains (oats, quinoa and brown rice)
- Legumes (beans and lentils)
- Non-starchy vegetables (spinach, broccoli, peppers)
- Fruits like apples, berries, or pears
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Control Portion Sizes
- Large meals can spike blood sugar.
- Try eating smaller portions more often, every 3–4 hours, to keep levels stable.
- Simple hand method for portion control:
- Protein = palm
- Carbs = cupped hand
- Veg = two hands
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Exercise
- Exercise helps your cells absorb glucose and improves insulin sensitivity.
- Aim for at least 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week:
- Walking
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Resistance training
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Stay Hydrated
- Drink plenty of water – dehydration raises blood sugar.
- Avoid sugary drinks and excessive fruit juice.
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Reduce Sugar and Refined Carbs
- Cut back on white rice, white bread, pastries, and sweets.
- Replace with whole foods and high-fiber options.
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Add Blood Sugar-Friendly Nutrients
- Fiber: Slows sugar absorption (found in veggies, legumes, and oats).
- Magnesium: Supports insulin function (found in leafy greens, nuts, seeds).
- Chromium: May help with glucose control (found in whole grains, broccoli, eggs).
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Sleep Well
- Poor sleep increases insulin resistance and hunger hormones.
- Aim for 7-9 hours per night.
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Manage Stress
- Chronic stress increases cortisol, which raises blood sugar.
- Try:
- Deep breathing
- Meditation or prayer
- Journaling or nature walks
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Use A Natural Supplement
- Manna Health Blood Sugar Support is made from only food-grade, organic Mesquite.
- Manna Blood Sugar Support is an effective, natural way to manage your blood sugar levels.
- Taken with food, the supplement gels with the food in the stomach to slow down the rate at which glucose is released into the bloodstream.
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Monitor Your Levels!
- It is important to keep an eye on your blood sugar levels. This will help you identify foods and habits that affect your levels.