If you’re concerned about healthy blood sugar levels, it’s important to be aware of these unexpected factors that can spike your normal blood sugar.
* Skipping breakfastOverweight women who didn’t eat breakfast had higher insulin and blood sugar levels after they ate lunch a few hours later than they did on another day when they ate breakfast, a 2013 study found. Another study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that men who regularly skipped breakfast had a 21 per cent higher chance of developing diabetes than those who didn’t. A morning meal especially one that is rich in protein and healthy fat seems to stabilize blood sugar levels throughout the day.
* Artificial sweetenersThey have to be better for your blood sugar than, well, sugar, right? An interesting new Israeli study suggests that artificial sweeteners can still take a negative toll. When researchers gave mice artificial sweeteners, they had higher blood sugar levels than mice who drank plain water or even water with sugar!
* A high-fat mealPeople with diabetes may worry about the carb contents of their meals, but recent research suggests that fat content can affect blood sugar too. In a Journal of Nutrition study from 2011, subjects ate a fat-containing beverage (designed to mimic a fatty meal), then drank a sugary beverage six hours later. Their blood sugar levels were 32 per cent higher than they were when they didn’t have the fat-containing beverage. It seems that high levels of fat in the blood affect the body’s ability to clear sugar from the blood as well.
* Infection
Whether it’s a cold, flu, urinary tract infection, or another health condition, your immune system releases special germ-fighting chemicals that can throw your blood sugar out of whack. “Illness is a form of stress that rouses the body’s defences,” according to the book Stopping Diabetes In Its Tracks. “One effect is that the liver steps up glucose production to provide more energy. At the same time, stress hormones are released that make cells more insulin resistant. The net result is that blood sugar can rise dramatically when you’re ill.” Dr. Cypess says he even has “sick day” rules for his diabetes patients special eating and drinking guidelines to help keep their sugar levels more balanced. Staying hydrated (with non-caffeinated, non-sugar beverages) is critical it flushes excess glucose out and helps every aspect of your body work better. Diabetes patients should let their doctor know when they’re sick; they may recommend more frequent blood sugar testing or adjust your insulin dosage.
* Skimping on sleepA good night’s sleep may be just the medicine your doctor ordered especially if you have diabetes or are worried about getting it. A Dutch study of patients with type 1 diabetes found that when they got just four hours of sleep a night, their insulin sensitivity dropped 20 per cent compared to when they got a full night’s sleep, EverydayHealth.com reported. Not getting enough sleep is a form of chronic stress on the body, and anytime you have added stress, you're going to have higher blood sugar levels.