Track Your Blood Sugar Levels to Protect Your Health

Track Your Blood Sugar Levels to Protect Your Health

What’s your blood sugar or blood glucose level? It’s an important piece of information you should know when you’re living with diabetes.

The trouble with high blood sugar levels

Left unchecked, high blood sugar levels can lead to poor circulation, nerve damage, blindness, and vision loss.

High blood glucose levels also raise the risk for heart disease, kidney disease, and other health problems.

Plus, diabetes is among the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States.

And it doesn’t have to be that way.

Paying attention to your blood glucose levels with a simple finger-prick test and blood glucose monitor makes it easy to find out where you’re at.

So what’s a healthy blood glucose level?

When you use a blood glucose monitor, pay attention to the result. It’s not just to show your doctor at your next appointment.

If you have diabetes, a healthy blood glucose level is 130 mg/dL to 180 mg/dL.

It’s going to vary a little if you haven’t eaten in a while, or you’re testing your blood sugar levels after eating. If your results are a lot higher or lower, that’s when you should take action.

Why? Keeping blood sugar levels in check is the best way to prevent complications associated with diabetes overtime. If your blood sugar levels are too high, or too low, it’s a reminder to take action, talk to your doctor, make some lifestyle changes, and improve your diet.

What should you eat when you have diabetes? The biggest factor on blood sugar levels when you have diabetes is carbohydrates. There’s simple or refined carbohydrates the body digests quickly that rapidly raise blood sugar levels.

And there’s complex carbohydrates that take longer to digest, and help regulate blood sugar levels. And they’re mainly found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.

Want a little help keeping your blood sugar levels in check? Check your blood sugar levels regularly. Try to get in the habit of testing the same time every day.

Then stick to a Diabetic-Friendly diet. It’s easy. Just pick your favorite meals made from fresh ingredients, and you’re ready to eat in minutes.