Best Home Remedies to Control Diabetes

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High blood sugar occurs when your body can’t effectively transport sugar from the blood into cells. When left unchecked, this can lead to diabetes. One study reported that 12–14% of US adults had type 2 diabetes, while 37–38% were classified as pre-diabetic. This means that 50% of all US adults have diabetes or pre-diabetes. Here are easy ways to lower blood sugar levels naturally:

1. Monitor Your Blood Sugar Levels

Measuring and monitoring blood glucose levels can also help you control them. For example, keeping track helps you determine whether you need to make adjustments in meals or medications. It will also help you find out how your body reacts to certain foods. Try measuring your levels every day, and keeping track of the numbers in a log.

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Checking your sugars and maintaining a log every day will help you adjust foods and medications to decrease your sugar levels.

2. Get Enough Quality Sleep

Getting enough sleep feels great and is necessary for good health. Poor sleeping habits and a lack of rest also affect blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity. They can increase appetite and promote weight gain. Sleep deprivation decreases the release of growth hormones and increases cortisol levels. Both of these play an important role in blood sugar control.
Furthermore, good sleep is about both quantity and quality. It is best to get a sufficient amount of high-quality sleep every night.

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Good sleep helps maintain blood sugar control and promote a healthy weight. Poor sleep can disrupt important metabolic hormones.

3. Eat Foods Rich in Chromium and Magnesium

High blood sugar levels and diabetes have also been linked to micronutrient deficiencies. Examples include deficiencies in the mineral’s chromium and magnesium. Chromium is involved in carb and fat metabolism. It also helps control blood sugar levels, and a lack of chromium may predispose you to carb intolerance. However, the mechanisms behind this are not completely known. Studies also report mixed findings.
In one study, people with the highest magnesium intake had a 47% lower risk of becoming diabetic. However, if you already eat plenty of magnesium-rich foods, then you probably will not benefit from supplements. Magnesium-rich foods include dark leafy greens, whole grains, fish, dark chocolate, bananas, avocados, and beans.

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Eating foods rich in chromium and magnesium on a regular basis can help prevent deficiencies and reduce blood sugar problems.

4. Try Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has many benefits for your health. It promotes lower fasting blood sugar levels, possibly by decreasing its production by the liver or increasing its use by cells. What’s more, studies show that vinegar significantly influences your body’s response to sugars and improves insulin sensitivity. To incorporate apple cider vinegar into your diet, you can add it to salad dressings or mix 2 teaspoons in 8 ounces of water. However, it’s important to check with your doctor before taking apple cider vinegar if you are already taking medications that lower blood sugar.

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Adding apple cider vinegar to your diet can help your body in many ways, including reducing blood sugar levels.

5. Experiment with Cinnamon Extract

Cinnamon is known to have many health benefits. For one, it has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity by decreasing insulin resistance at the cellular level. Studies show cinnamon can also lower blood sugar levels by up to 29%. It slows the breakdown of carbs in the digestive tract, which moderates the rise in blood sugar after a meal. Cinnamon also acts in a similar way as insulin, although at a much slower rate. An effective dose is 1–6 grams of cinnamon per day, or about 0.5–2 teaspoons.
However, definitely, don’t take more than that since too much cinnamon can be harmful. If you would like to try it, Amazon has a good selection available.

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Cinnamon has been shown to reduce fasting blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity.

6. Try Berberine

Berberine is the active component of a Chinese herb that’s been used to treat diabetes for thousands of years. Berberine has been shown to help lower blood sugar and enhance the breakdown of carbs for energy. What’s more, berberine may be as effective as some blood-sugar-lowering drugs. This makes it one of the most effective supplements for those with diabetes or pre-diabetes.
However, many of the mechanisms behind its effects are still unknown. Additionally, it may have some side effects. Diarrhea, constipation, flatulence and abdominal pain have been reported.

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Berberine works well for lowering blood sugar levels and can help manage diabetes. However, it may have some digestive side effects.

7. Eat Fenugreek Seeds

Fenugreek seeds are a great source of soluble fiber, which can help control blood sugar levels. Many studies have shown that fenugreek can effectively lower blood sugar in diabetics. It also helps reduce fasting glucose and improve glucose tolerance.
Although not that popular, fenugreek can easily be added to baked goods to help treat diabetes. You can also make fenugreek flour or brew it into tea. Fenugreek seeds are also considered one of the safest herbs for diabetes. The recommended dose of fenugreek seeds is 2–5 grams per day. If you’d like to try it, Amazon has a large selection available.

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Consider giving fenugreek seeds a try. They are easy to add to your diet and can help regulate blood glucose levels.

8. Lose Some Weight

It’s a no-brainer that maintaining a healthy weight will improve your health and prevent future health problems. Weight control also promotes healthy blood sugar levels and has been shown to reduce your risk of developing diabetes. Even a 7% reduction in body weight can decrease your risk of developing diabetes by up to 58%, and it seems to work even better than medication. What’s more, these decreased risks can be sustained over the years. You should also be conscious of your waistline, as it is perhaps the most important weight-related factor for estimating your diabetes risk.
A measurement of 35 inches (88.9 cm) or more for women and 40 inches (101.6 cm) or more for men is associated with an increased risk of developing insulin resistance, high blood sugar levels, and type 2 diabetes. Having a healthy waist measurement maybe even more important than your overall weight.

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Keeping a healthy weight and waistline will help you maintain normal blood sugar levels and decrease your risk of developing diabetes.

Effective Ways to Control Diabetes Naturally

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High blood sugar occurs when your body can’t effectively transport sugar from the blood into cells. When left unchecked, this can lead to diabetes. With these tips, you can lower your blood sugar level naturally:

1. Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise can help you lose weight and increase insulin sensitivity. Increased insulin sensitivity means your cells are better able to use the available sugar in your bloodstream. Exercise also helps your muscles use blood sugar for energy and muscle contraction. If you have problems with blood sugar control, you should routinely check your levels. This will help you learn how you respond to different activities and keep your blood sugar levels from getting either too high or too low. Good forms of exercise include weight lifting, brisk walking, running, biking, dancing, hiking, swimming, and more.

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Exercise increases insulin sensitivity and helps your muscles pick up sugars from the blood. This can lead to reduced blood sugar levels.

2. Control Your Carb Intake

Your body breaks carbs down into sugars (mostly glucose), and then insulin moves the sugars into cells. When you eat too many carbs or have problems with insulin function, this process fails and blood glucose levels rise.
Many studies show that a low-carb diet helps reduce blood sugar levels and prevent blood sugar spikes. What’s more, a low-carb diet can help control blood sugar levels in the long run. You can read more in this article on healthy low-carb eating with diabetes.

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Carbs are broken down into glucose, which raises blood sugar levels. Reducing carbohydrate intake can help with blood sugar control.

3. Increase Your Fiber Intake

Fiber slows carb digestion and sugar absorption. For these reasons, it promotes a more gradual rise in blood sugar levels. Furthermore, the type of fiber you eat may play a role.
There are two kinds of fiber: insoluble and soluble. While both are important, soluble fiber specifically has been shown to lower blood sugar levels. Additionally, a high-fiber diet can help manage type 1 diabetes by improving blood sugar control and reducing blood sugar lows. Foods that are high in fiber include vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains. The recommended daily intake of fiber is about 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men. That’s about 14 grams for every 1,000 calories.

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Eating plenty of fiber can help with blood sugar control, and soluble dietary fiber is the most effective.

4. Drink Water and Stay Hydrated

Drinking enough water may help you keep your blood sugar levels within healthy limits. In addition to preventing dehydration, it helps your kidneys flush out the excess blood sugar through urine.
One observational study showed that those who drank more water had a lower risk of developing high blood sugar levels. Drinking water regularly re-hydrates the blood, lowers blood sugar levels and reduces diabetes risk. Keep in mind that water and other non-caloric beverages are best. Sugar-sweetened drinks raise blood glucose, drive weight gain and increase diabetes risk.

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Staying hydrated can reduce blood sugar levels and help prevent diabetes. Water is the best.

5. Implement Portion Control

Portion control helps regulate calorie intake and can lead to weight loss. Consequently, controlling your weight promotes healthy blood sugar levels and has been shown to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Monitoring your serving sizes also helps reduce calorie intake and subsequent blood sugar spikes.
Here are some helpful tips for controlling portions:

  • Measure and weigh portions
  • Use smaller plates
  • Avoid all-you-can-eat restaurants
  • Read food labels and check the serving sizes
  • Keep a food journal
  • Eat slowly

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The more control you have over your serving sizes the better control you will have over your blood sugar levels.

6. Control Stress Levels

Stress can affect your blood sugar levels. Hormones such as glucagon and cortisol are secreted during stress. These hormones cause blood sugar levels to go up. One study showed that exercise, relaxation, and meditation significantly reduced stress and lowered blood sugar levels for students. Exercises and relaxation methods like yoga and mindfulness-based stress reduction can also correct insulin secretion problems in chronic diabetes.

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Controlling stress levels through exercise or relaxation methods such as yoga will help you control blood sugars.

Powerful 7 Natural Home Remedies to Manage Diabetes

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Much thanks to our changing, unhealthy lifestyle, stress, and lack of physical or mental exercise, the world is now engulfed by a widespread disease known as diabetes like never before. Diabetes is a genetic as well as a lifestyle disease in which the blood sugar level is too high in the human body. Since it is a chronic disease and once affected, patients are usually on anti-diabetic medicines for life. Even though it is very difficult to completely stop taking the medication completely, here are some natural and Ayurvedic home remedies to help you keep your sugar levels in control naturally. But, do consult your Ayurveda physician before starting on any remedies listed below to avoid complications.

1. Bitter Gourd or Karela

Rich in plant insulin-polypeptide-P, bitter gourd, or karela has the ability to reduce hyperglycemia (increase in sugar levels). Bitter gourd also contains two very essential compounds called Charatin and Momordica, which are the key compounds in lowering one’s blood sugar levels.

How to use:

  • Consume karela once a week either as a vegetable or in a curry.
  • Slice the bitter gourd and scrape away the flesh to remove the seeds. Add the sliced vegetable to a blender and run till it becomes juice. Drink one small glass of this juice on empty stomach every morning.

2. Fenugreek

Fenugreek is a commonly used herb in the Indian kitchens with many benefits. It helps to control diabetes, improve glucose tolerance, lower blood sugar levels and stimulate the secretion of glucose-dependent insulin.

How to use:

  • Soak 2 tbsp of fenugreek seeds in water overnight and drink that water along with the seeds in the morning empty stomach daily to bring down your glucose level.
  • Consume fenugreek seed powder with hot or cold water or milk daily.

3. Mango Leaves

Fresh mango leaves are an effective home remedy to manage and treat diabetes.

How to use:

  • Wash and sun-dry tender mango leaves and grind to a powder. Consume this powder with water in the morning and night daily.
  • Boil some fresh mango leaves in a glass of water and leave it to cool overnight. Drink the water in the morning empty stomach.

4. Indian Gooseberry or Amla

Indian gooseberry or amla is one of the richest sources of vitamin C and helps your pancreas to produce optimum so that your blood glucose levels remain balanced.

How to use:

  • Remove the seeds and grind 2-3 amlas into a fine paste and squeeze out its juice. Mix this juice (approximately 2 tbsp) in a cup of water and drink it every morning empty stomach.
  • Mix a cup of bitter gourd juice and 1 tbsp of amla juice and drink it daily.
  • Consume raw amla every day.

5. Drumstick or Moringa Leaves

The drumstick or Moringa leaves are best known for their ability to maintain blood sugar levels and boost one’s energy. The moringa leaves contain nutrients that increase insulin secretion in the body. The leaves are also rich in antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties.

How to use:

  • Include 50 grams of fresh moringa leaves in a meal. It will not only add a flavor but also reduce the rise in blood sugar by 21%.
  • Either toss them like a salad or steam them like spinach.

6. Sunlight

In recent years, researchers have linked low Vitamin D levels to insulin resistance and diabetes. Studies found that Vitamin D plays a vital role in the production of insulin in the body. The lower your levels of vitamin D, the more prone you are to develop type 2 diabetes.

What to do:

  • Daily take sunbath for 30 minutes to avoid Vitamin D deficiency.
  • Include Vitamin D rich foods in your daily diets such as orange juice, soy milk, cheese, yogurt, and cereals.

7. Water

For people with diabetes, the risk of dehydration is greater. To get rid of the glucose, the kidneys will try to pass it out in the urine, but that takes water. So the higher your blood glucose, the more fluids you should drink, which is why thirst is one of the main symptoms of diabetes.

How to use:

  • Consume 2.5 liters of water a day.