How To Lower Your Blood Sugar Quickly & Safely (2021 Guide)

If you’re looking for a quick fix guide to lowering your blood sugar, we have just the thing. In this article, we’ll discuss how to lower your blood sugar quickly and safely. There are many reasons why people might need their blood sugars lowered quickly, including emergency situations where they don’t have insulin handy. So today, we’ll give you some tips on how to lower your blood sugar quickly, know when to go to the ER, and ongoing tips for managing high blood sugar levels in the future.

Why Does Blood Sugar Spike?

The reasons for how and why blood sugar levels can spike are many. For some, it may simply be a matter of not taking enough insulin or being distracted and forgetting to administer the proper dosage throughout the day. Other people may produce too much glucose because they’re unable to use all of what’s available in foods as energy because of their diabetes.

For others, the cause may not be so clear. For example, it could have to do with how a person’s body is reacting to stress or how they’re managing their diet and lifestyle in general. Either way, there are ways to manage high blood sugar, both short-term and long-term.

What Are the Symptoms of High Blood Sugar?

Symptoms of a dangerously high level can include feeling shaky or lightheaded and having blurred vision. You may also have trouble breathing or feel like you’re going into shock if the situation gets worse quickly. Emergency treatment as soon as possible involves calling 911, placing an IV in the arm (if available), and administering insulin intravenously until glucose levels drop below 200mg/dL. In non-emergency situations, there are a few things you can try to quickly and safely lower your blood sugar.

Best Ways to Lower Blood Sugar Quickly

Below are some of the best ways to lower your blood sugar quickly.

Insulin

Take your insulin dose! Despite having a regular regimen of taking insulin and managing your blood glucose, there are still times where your blood sugar can spike at a moment’s notice, and you should take a correction dose of insulin. This should help bring it back down to normal levels.

Exercise

Take a brisk walk, a jog, or get on your bike and ride for at least 15 minutes. This will rapidly lower your blood sugar levels as the exercise helps to remove glucose from your bloodstream through sweat. Be sure to drink plenty of water before, during, and after this activity because it can dehydrate you!

Hydrate

Drinking tons of water and staying hydrated can help to lower your blood sugar quickly. It can also have other benefits, such as making you feel better and more energetic overall.

Take any Missed Medication

If you’ve missed your medication or insulin dose for the day, take them right away. Some evidence also shows that aspirin can lower your blood glucose levels in a pinch.

Eat Fruits or a Healthy Snack

Many foods can help lower your blood sugar level when eaten at certain times of day, such as bananas (they have lots of potassium) and protein-rich food, which will keep you fuller longer than sugary snacks would so you don’t feel hungry again soon after eating them. There are also a variety of supplements out there to help reduce blood sugar.

When to Call 911 or See a Doctor

If you’re feeling lightheaded or shaky, it’s a good idea to call 911 and get emergency help. If your blood sugar is over 250mg/dL, then go to the ER for treatment right away. Otherwise, how long you wait before going to see a doctor depends on how high your levels are as well as how quickly they’ve been rising in general. Consistently high blood sugar levels can wreak havoc on your pancreas, nervous system, and other organ functions.

How Can I Prevent Future Blood Sugar Spikes?

The most effective way to avoid future highs is by managing your diet well. With that said, here’s how you can go about doing just that:

Regular Exercise

Exercise helps to regulate your blood sugar levels and can prevent spikes by burning glucose right away. Aim for about 30-45 minutes of moderate exercise every day, such as a brisk walk.

Maintain Regular Meals & Healthy Snacks

Eating regular meals at the same time each day will help you maintain consistent energy throughout the day and avoid highs from skipping or overeating between meals. Plus, healthy snacks are vital in preventing high blood sugar since they also keep you fuller longer than sugary snacks would, so it’s less likely that you’ll indulge again soon after eating them.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Leaving enough time before bed to wind down is important if you want to wake up feeling refreshed without sleeping through an insulin dose.

Get Enough Vitamin D

A lack of vitamin D can lead to insulin resistance, which is a key risk factor for type II diabetes and high blood sugar levels. This nutrient is also essential for managing how quickly your body breaks down certain substances that contribute to these problems, like carbohydrates and fats. So drink milk or take supplements if you don’t get enough sunshine!

Eat More Fiber

If you’re eating the right foods but still struggling with blood sugar spikes, then try adding more fiber-rich foods to your diet. These include foods like whole grains, beans, and vegetables like carrots, beets, and broccoli.

Limit Alcohol Intake

Alcohol can affect how quickly your body breaks down sugars in the bloodstream, so it’s best to limit how much alcohol you drink at any given time because too much can make high blood sugar levels worse. Plus, drinking alcohol dehydrates you and affects your sleep, which makes you feel bad overall.

Drink Tons of Water

Drinking plenty of water is essential for helping your organs and body’s cells function, so make sure to drink at least 64 ounces of water per day (8 8oz. glasses).

Stay Away From Sugar

There’s no doubt about it: sugar will make your blood sugar levels spike. This includes things like honey, syrups, and other sweeteners that are often used in cooking or baking. If you’re going to use these ingredients, then try using alternatives such as stevia, which won’t have nearly the same effect on how quickly your body breaks down sugars from food sources like fruit.

Manage Your Carbs

The amount you eat and how often you eat carbs will play a large part in how your body responds to them. With that said, here’s how you can better manage your carbohydrates:

• Stay within the recommended 30g of carbs per meal
• Avoid meals with more than one carb for every two grams of protein or fat (i.e., pasta with cheese)
• Limit how often you eat carbs to once a day or less
• Eat the right types of carbohydrates for your body (i.e., complex vs. simple). Our bodies better absorb complex sugars, so try eating foods like whole grains and vegetables instead of processed foods.

Portion Control

Keeping track of how much you’re eating is vital for managing your body’s insulin response. Try using smaller plates and bowls to ensure that you’re not overeating by accident. When it comes to high-carb foods like bread, pasta, rice, etc., start with smaller portions (even just one serving) until you know how your body responds to them.

Eat Low-Glycemic Index Foods

Low-glycemic index foods are those that break down at a slower rate, so they’ll have less of an effect on how quickly your body breaks down sugars and releases insulin into the bloodstream. Examples include green vegetables, raw carrots, lentils, chickpeas, and bananas.

Stress Management

Stress can contribute to how quickly your body breaks down sugars, so it’s important for you to manage this. Easiest way? Take some time each day and try some deep breathing exercises, yoga, or meditation.

We hope this article has helped give some insight into lowering your blood sugar quickly and safely! But in the end, prevention will be key to keeping your blood sugar at a normal level. Remember that if you try these things and still cannot lower your blood sugar, call 911 for emergency help right away. And remember, it’s best not to wait more than 12 hours before seeing a doctor about high blood sugar due to how dangerous it can be.

For easier blood glucose maintenance, try our Pops Rebel Blood Glucose Monitoring System. You’ll be able to track your blood sugar levels with ease all day long. Pair it with a healthy diet and exercise, and you are well on your way to managing your diabetes without fail!