How to keep your blood sugar balanced

Brittany Maffett, FNP

Endocrinology

Maffett’s tips on how to keep your blood sugar balanced include:

• Monitoring your blood sugar so you know whether your current treatment plan is effective
• Know your target numbers
• Know the symptoms to watch for, including thirst, dry mouth, headaches, sweating, shakiness, difficulty thinking or speaking or dizziness
• Know what to do if your blood sugar is too high, like exercise, drinking more water, meditations to lower stress and ensuring you have taken your medications
• Know the “15/15 rule” for low blood sugar: 15 grams of carbs and recheck blood sugar after 15 minutes. Carbs useful for this include glucose tablets, orange juice, soda and honey or syrup
• Make sure you are using the tools you have been given, including insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors or other diabetes tools
• Remember that illness, infection, dehydration, missing medications or drinking high-carb or high-sugar drinks can make blood sugar spike
• Keep in mind that physical activity or exercise, some antibiotics, skipping meals and taking insulin without eating can all cause a dip in blood sugar levels

Maffett’s final tip on how to keep your blood sugar balanced?

“My final advice would be monitoring your blood sugars regularly, taking all medications as prescribed by your health care provider, eating as healthy as possible, engaging in regular physical activity letting your doctor know if you’re still experiencing blood sugar highs or lows even on your current treatment regimen,” said Maffett.