5 Tips to Keep Your Blood Sugar Levels in Check in 2021

How to Keep Blood Sugar in Check

It’s that time of year when a lot of people focus on things they want to change or improve. It’s a great time to evaluate your health and take a closer look at how you’re managing diabetes.

If the holidays kind of turned your diet upside down, you’re not alone. Maybe your exercise habits and sleep schedule took a hit, too. It happens. But now is a great time to make some changes to improve your health and keep your blood sugar levels in check. Here are some things you can do:

1. Review your A1C results

It’s your average blood sugar level over the past three months. It’s one of the best ways to measure blood sugar over time. According to the American Diabetes Association, an A1C level of less than 7% is a healthy goal for people with diabetes.

Are you high, low, or right where you should be? If you need help, talk with your doctor about your medication, diet, and lifestyle habits.

2. Check your blood pressure

Normal blood pressure range is less than 120/80. If it’s higher than that, you may have elevated or high blood pressure, which puts your health at risk.

If your blood pressure is higher than normal, take a closer look at your diet. Eating Diabetic-friendly foods (including lots of fruits and vegetables) and avoiding sodium can help improve blood pressure. So can regular exercise.

3. Check your cholesterol level

This includes:

• Total cholesterol
• LDL (bad) cholesterol
• HDL (good) cholesterol

When was the last time you had a blood test? Check your results. Are you high, low, or doing well? Your diet has a big impact on cholesterol levels. To improve cholesterol, eat more plant-based foods and avoid processed foods. Your activity level can make a difference, too.

4. Check your albumin level

Why? It’s another way to identify insulin resistance. And if there’s albumin detected in a urine test, it’s an indicator of diabetes and kidney damage. If you don’t know your albumin level, the new year is a great time to make an appointment to find out.

5. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day

You don’t have to run a marathon or climb a mountain. But regular exercise, like walking for 30 minutes, can help control blood sugar levels. Exercise helps burn calories using carbohydrates as energy. Exercise also burns fat to support weight loss and weight management.

Are you getting at least 30 minutes of exercise per day? If not, now is a great time to start. If that’s too much, break it up into 2-3 shorter sessions per day.

How are you doing? Are you keeping your blood sugar levels in check? Take a closer look at what you’re doing well, and where you can improve. Then make some simple changes to do better in 2021.