Lower blood sugar levels by making a simple lifestyle tweak - 'a small habit with powerful effects' ()
<iframe frameborder="0" height="100%" scrolling="no" src="https://www.gbnews.com/res/scraper/embed/?video_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmm-v2.simplestream.com%2Fiframe%2Fplayer.php%3Fkey%3D3Li3Nt2Qs8Ct3Xq9Fi5Uy0Mb2Bj0Qs%26player%3DGB003%26uvid%3D52880867%26type%3Dvod%26viously_id%3DLuPJtDjCZ9R" width="100%"></iframe><br/><p class="">Monitoring blood glucose levels is certainly a key part of everyday life for those with diabetes but, in truth, swathes of the population could find some benefit from keeping tabs on their daily sugar levels. </p><p>Blood glucose spikes can be driven by diet, activity levels, stress, illness, and medication which can increase the body's insulin resistance. As a result, you could be opening yourself up to increased risk of diabetes and accelerated ageing. </p><h3></h3><br/><p>Registered dietician Cayleigh McKenna from Dietitian Live told GB News the best methods to decrease blood glucose levels - one of which being managing stress and ensuring you get some quality shut-eye.</p><p>"Chronic stress and poor sleep can raise cortisol," Cayleigh warned. "Cortisol, our primary stress hormone, triggers the release of glucose into the bloodstream to provide quick energy in a 'fight or flight' scenario, increasing blood sugar."</p><h3></h3><br/><img alt="A woman measuring her blood sugar level" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b2ecfa60fa19f73a6076efd744b956ef" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="c9bdd" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/a-woman-measuring-her-blood-sugar-level.jpg?id=56212732&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-latest"></div><h3></h3><br/><p>To improve insulin sensitivity, Cayleigh advised managing day-to-day stress by practising mindfulness and prioritising quality sleep. </p><p>A medically-proven way to reduce anxiety, mindfulness is accessible for everyone and has boomed in popularity to aid individuals with stress management and to support overall well-being, the American Psychological Association confirmed.</p><p>Another way to combat stress, as mentioned by Cayleigh, is by getting quality rest. Endless overthinking can cause your sleep to suffer, the Mayo Clinic warned.</p><p>Every adult needs around seven to nine hours of sleep each night to allow the brain and body to repair itself, ready for the next day ahead. </p><p><strong><span></span>LATEST DEVELOPMENTS</strong><br/></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/health/how-to-live-longer-berries-tea-apples" target="_self">The longevity-boosting foods to eat more of every day for a 'longer, healthier life'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/health/how-to-sleep-deep-drink-health-choach-bedtime-beverage" target="_self">How to sleep: 'I'm a health coach and I have a bedtime beverage every night for deep slumber'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/health/b12-deficiency-symptoms-tongue" target="_self">'My B12 deficiency symptoms may linger for years - it's changed the look of my tongue'</a></li></ul><h3></h3><br><div class="embed-dontmiss"></div><h3></h3><br/><p><br/></p><p>To get that rest, it's best to make sure your evening routine is as relaxing as possible to put the mind at ease and prepare for slumber. Listening to calming music, putting down electronics and abiding by a regular routine are all ways to put yourself in the best position for a good night's rest.</p><p>A second way to control your sugar levels is by getting moving after meal times, the expert said. </p><p>"Light physical activity, such as a 10 to 15 minute walk, has been shown to help lower post-meal blood sugar by increasing how efficiently muscles use glucose," the dietician explained to the People's Channel. </p><p>"This small habit can have powerful effects over time."</p><h3></h3><br><img alt="An older woman wearing a navy jacket walking her dog through a suburban, leafy area" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="737a1459b730736cbfe56afd56815311" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="c9298" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/an-older-woman-wearing-a-navy-jacket-walking-her-dog-through-a-suburban-leafy-area.jpg?id=60266991&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-mostread"></div><h3></h3><br/><p>Cleveland Clinic nurse and diabetes specialist Shannon Knapp echoed the same sentiment. After eating, blood glucose levels will naturally rise, reaching their highest levels around 30 to 90 minutes after eating.</p><p>However, the expert said: "Exercise impacts your blood sugar quickly, often within a few minutes.</p><p><span></span>"And over time, physical activity helps your body use insulin more effectively, decreasing the insulin resistance we often see in diabetes."</p><p>Still, she warned that the quick tip was not a "magical solution for diabetes", adding that it was a "great habit that benefits blood sugar". After all, controlling sugar levels and managing diabetes cannot be solved by one behaviour alone. </p></br></br>
