You might have considered other diabetes remedies to have a go at lower blood sugar.
Find out what works and what you should avoid.
Skipping Meals
Skipping meals could potentially push your blood glucose higher.
Skipping meals can also lead to overeating, which can cause an increase in weight.
Recently, Brown-Riggs counseled a PWD key in 2 who ate very little carbohydrate.
The result: poor energy and severe headaches.
Brown-Riggs helped the person balance out his meal plan by suggesting fruits, grains, and other carb-containing foods.
Eating Pasta Al Dente
It is best to eat your spaghetti al dente, says David J. Jenkins' advice: Cook starchy foods adequately, but avoid overcooking.
Most important, control portions and count the calories and carb grams.
Other studies were not so positive, however.
Enjoy this sweet, fragrant spice anyway to delight your taste buds without adding calories or sodium.
Sprinkle it on oatmeal, yogurt, and fruit to add sweetness without adding sugar.
In fact, it’s hard to predict just when alcohol might cause hypoglycemia.
Sometimes the effects even occur the following day.
Shane-McWhorter recommends people with diabetes use supplements with caution.
It won’t, however, lower high blood glucose levels, she says.
Splashing a Little Vinegar
Can a spoonful of vinegar help the blood sugar go down?
But that"s still not a license to go carb crazy.
Vinegar may inhibit starch digestion and hold food in the stomach a little longer, Johnston says.
The problem is the vinegar itself.
It just isn’t fun to drink a couple tablespoons before a meal.
Take advantage of vinegar’s benefits by splashing some on a salad and adding it to cooked vegetables.
Doubling Up on Diabetes Medicines
Is twice as much medicine twice as good at lowering your blood sugar?
This is dangerous because you risk your blood glucose dropping critically low when taking blood glucose lowering medication.
If it’s high because of simply eating too much, learn from your mistake and move on.
You should not adjust your medications without first discussing it with a member of your health care team.
Taking Supplements
Research results for several popular diabetes supplements have been mixed.
Some studies suggest that the fruit, juice, or extract improve glucose tolerance.
Its high fiber content may help reduce cholesterol levels as well, but also may cause stomach upset.
Guar gum might also reduce the absorption of penicillin and other medications.
So how can you know?
She suggests checking both the United States Pharmacopoeia website, and the ConsumerLab website, before considering supplements.
This article was reviewed by Hope S. Warshaw, R.D., CDE, BC-ADM, 2010.
