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Maintaining stable blood sugar levels is critical for weight loss and longer term weight management.

It is also critical for people who suffer from chronic fatigue and diabetes.First, let’s define what ideal sugar levels are.

In healthy individuals, blood sugar levels should be under 100.

There is a special reading called A1c that is a measurement of our blood sugar over a period of time. Those levels should be 6.5% or below.

What happens in our bodies when sugar levels are above 120 consistently or our A1c is over 6.5%?

To put it simplistically, imagine a red blood cell as a red ball.

Attached to this ball are other molecules of nutrients and oxygen.

When our sugar level is high, there are more sugar molecules than what there should be.

This displaces oxygen and other nutritive molecules.

As a result, the blood cells are not delivering to our internal organs, such as kidneys, the levels of oxygen and nutrients needed.

When sugar remains high, we are literally starving our internal organs.

This can create tissue damage to the kidneys, damage to the eyes (glacoma, retina issues), and damage to the nervous system (neuropathy–numbness in the hands or feet).

Inconsistent blood sugar levels can also lead to cravings which makes it difficult to maintain one’s ideal body weight.

The addition of D-Ribose and Apple Cider Vinegar tablet supplements can help quell hunger and help balance PH level and glucose levels.  Chromium can also help to quell cravings and stabilize blood sugar levels.

Factors that Raise Sugar

Diet:  Types of Foods 

A diet high in simple carbohydrates (e.g. white sugar products, honey, corn syrup, fructose, white flour, refined grains,  and fresh fruit) can cause the sugar levels to rise quickly as these type of carbohydrates get absorbed into the bloodstream quickly.

With clients that have glucose levels that are consistently above 140, I recommend that they eliminate sources of simple carbohydrates including fruit juices which can raise the blood sugar rapidly until levels stabilize.

Or if they have fruit juice or whole fruit, small amounts along with meals that have adequate protein or fats will help to slow the absorption of the fructose.

Whole fruit is often more desirable than juice as the fiber content in whole fruit also slows down absorption of sugar.

As sugar levels, improve, clients can slowly add back into the diet, fresh fruit juices with the caveat to have a small amount of fats and protein whenever they drink juice.

People with high glucose  should eat whole grain carbohydrates such as whole wheat and brown rice.

Also, there are high carbohydrates found in alcoholic beverages, especially mixed drinks that often have added sugar in addition to the natural sugar that during the fermentation process that creates alcohol in wine, beer, or hard liquor. Thus, these types of drinks should be avoided.

Although, research exists to say that an occasional glass of wine can benefit in the heart, in diabetics, that same glass of wine can offset cardiac benefits by raising the blood sugar beyond healthy levels.

Thus, I suggest that clients turn to other forms of anti-oxidants such as decaf green tea or roobois to benefit the heart without elevating sugar levels.

Speaking of anti-oxidants, popular pomegranate and acai berry drinks are often sweetened with grape juice or other juices high in sugar–thus the benefit of these highly sweet beverages are offset by the fact they can raise glucose levels in diabetics and add additional calories to the diet for people who are attempting to lose weight.

Stress

One of the most common factors that can raise blood sugar level is stress.

Often times, people hope that medications along with diet are enough to control sugar levels.

However, reducing stress is critical.

If you are an individual who is running at full throttle, filling every moment with work and personal obligations, chances are that you stress levels of high.While we cannot eliminate stress, we can manage it effectively.

Sitting qi gong and meditative qi gong can be very critical tools that can be useful in lowering glucose levels.

The beauty of these exercises is that they actually increase your energy and can be performed even when one is tired.

Walking, swimming and other forms of aerobic activity can also be wonderful ways to de-stress and detoxify the body.

Regular bodywork, acupressure, and acupuncture can also help to de-stress the body at deep levels and create a lifestyle habit that says, “I’m committed to making time for me by minimizing stress.”