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The importance of a healthy lifestyle cannot be stressed enough. People tend to forget or ignore the importance of a healthy lifestyle to maintain good health.1 Even if we think that it is not as important as brushing our teeth or washing our face, it really is. The right kind of food that we take and the way we live are the keys to our long-term health.2
You can start from simple things like taking a walk around the neighborhood to more serious issues like taking vitamins and minerals supplements to fight various diseases that we may get into. Apart from eating right, you also need to practice healthy habits like exercising and get started with a healthy lifestyle today. It will not only improve your appearance but also your health in the long run.
Studies have shown that if you make use of healthy foods, you will not only feel good but will also be able to accomplish a healthy lifestyle. This means that you are not only going to have good physical health, you will also get rid of all kinds of health problems that you may experience. Getting started with healthy foods today can do a lot to improve your quality of life. You will no longer have to worry about getting sick and not being able to do the things that you love to do.
What is Healthy Blood Sugar?
For a normal person with no kind of diabetes, blood sugar levels tend to be between 70 and 130 mg/dl (median).3 Some diabetics with uncontrolled blood sugar levels may experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) as low blood sugar levels can also cause damage to the nerves in the feet. Newer concepts on nondiabetic blood sugar levels include post-meal blood sugar levels of up to 140 mg/dl. If you get blood sugar levels higher than this, it is best to contact your doctor or physician immediately.
Exercising regularly also assists in weight loss, which is another very important factor in controlling diabetes. Your healthcare provider will also suggest some lifestyle changes you can implement that will help you keep your glucose levels under control.4
High blood sugar can make you irritable, cranky, depressed, or just plain disinterested in life. These are all symptoms to watch for if you suspect you may have this condition.5 High blood sugar is also one of the risk factors for developing diabetes. That is why it is so important to monitor your blood sugar after eating foods and talk with your doctor about the risks for these foods. Eating healthy foods will help you avoid these risk factors and keep your diabetes under control.
What Are The Benefits Of Healthy Blood Sugar Levels?
The benefits of healthy blood sugar levels are many. Insulin is secreted when blood sugar levels get out of a healthy range. This helps regulate your metabolism and energy levels. It also works to remove excess sugar from your body and use it as energy. This allows you to be fuller longer so that you won’t feel hungry as often and that can help you prevent weight gain.6
When you have blood sugar levels that are too high, you can cause your insulin levels to increase. If they are too low, your blood sugar will not be metabolized correctly and you can experience a wide range of symptoms. You may feel hungry for no reason, and you may even feel clumsy or fuzzy-headed. The best thing to do if you have irregular blood sugar levels is to go on a blood sugar maintenance diet to return your blood glucose level to healthy levels.
Even though you should have regular blood sugar testing, if you have occasional problems with low blood sugar, you don’t need to get tested every day. If you regularly have blood tests and find that your blood glucose level is always in the healthy range, there are other things you can do.7 Eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise can help you maintain healthy blood sugar levels. A healthy diet should include plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. A good exercise routine will involve 30 minutes or more each day.
If you do experience problems with blood sugar levels, you should see your doctor immediately. You should never keep any blood glucose levels under control because this can lead to serious health problems like heart disease. Your doctor can test you for low blood sugar or gestational diabetes. He can also test you for hypoglycemia. You may be able to correct the problems yourself by changing your diet and exercising. In addition, you can correct problems with your weight if you make some changes in your lifestyle. Always try to eat a healthy, balanced diet.
If you are overweight, talk to your doctor about losing some of the weight. Your doctor can advise you about food choices that will help you lose weight and maintain healthy blood sugar levels. If you are pregnant, speak to your doctor before taking any dietary or exercise plan. You should always talk to your doctor before taking any dietary supplement.
Why Healthy Blood Sugar Levels Is Necessary
Healthy blood sugar levels are necessary is because when blood glucose levels rise it leads to a chain reaction that can and does have many dangerous consequences.8 For example, the insulin release into the bloodstream stimulates cells in the pancreas to secrete more insulin thus causing the cells to go into starvation mode, which results in the cells not being able to absorb insulin at all or release a minimal amount. When in this state the cells will begin to die and there is an accumulation of glucose in the blood instead of the cells being able to absorb the necessary sugar to sustain life. This leads to a build-up of toxins that need to be removed from the body before serious damage occurs.9
The second reason healthy blood sugar levels are necessary is that when blood sugar levels drop it leads to an increase in amounts of fat and protein within the human body. When blood sugar levels are high, fat and protein levels tend to increase because of the fact that glucose cannot be processed by the body as quickly as it can be converted into energy. In addition to this, the brain tends to also work at a higher rate when blood sugar levels are high since the nerve cells need more fuel for functioning. All of these factors lead to a situation where the body can become unhealthy very quickly. An obvious example of this is diabetes as it is a condition in which the body cannot process the necessary insulin and glucose to provide energy.
Without healthy blood sugar levels, it becomes more difficult to lose weight since the body is not capable of burning food quickly enough to make up for the shortfall in energy production. Furthermore, the level of glucose in the bloodstream tends to affect the level of energy your body requires to carry out tasks and this means that even when you are at a normal weight your metabolism may still be sluggish leading you to gain weight instead of losing weight. High levels of glucose can also lead to a deterioration of liver function and so it is important to get this particular issue under control to ensure that a person’s health remains healthy. This is why you should consider taking steps to keep blood glucose levels in your blood below that safe range so that weight loss is possible without too much effort.
Image Credits
Diabetes UK / Google Stock Images
Taking Control of Your Diabetes / Google Stock Images
Diabetes UK / Google Stock Images
Endnotes
1 “Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle | Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy.” https://www.foundationforpn.org/living-well/lifestyle/ Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
2 “Healthy Lifestyle – Mayo Clinic.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
3 “Normal blood glucose levels: What should my blood sugar level be?.” https://www.singlecare.com/blog/normal-blood-glucose-levels/ Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
4 “High Blood Sugar and Diabetes – Hyperglycemia – WebMD.” 15 May. 2021, https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/guide/diabetes-hyperglycemia Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
5 “Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar) – Cleveland Clinic.” 12 Feb. 2020, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9815-hyperglycemia-high-blood-sugar Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
6/sup> “Hyperglycemia: What Is High Blood Sugar? – Symptoms.” 30 Jun. 2021, https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/hyperglycemia/hyperglycemia-when-your-blood-glucose-level-goes-too-high Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
7 “Tests for Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, and Prediabetes – CDC.” https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/getting-tested.html Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
8 “Healthy blood glucose levels: Targets, extremes, and lifestyle tips.” 26 Mar. 2019, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/249413 Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
9 “Why Is It Important To Have Balanced Blood Sugar Levels? – MitoQ.” 27 Jun. 2016, https://www.mitoq.com/blog/blog/important-balanced-blood-sugar-levels Accessed 24 Aug. 2021.
