Controlling blood glucose or sugar levels is a concerning topic among individuals. Your body manages your blood sugar levels. For diabetic patients especially, maintaining these levels can be extremely difficult. Therefore, people with diabetes use medicines and supplements to control their blood sugar levels.
Both of these situations can be extremely dangerous for your health, whether your blood sugar levels are low or high. However, the question is, how will you know whether you have low or high blood glucose levels? Furthermore, what controls the blood glucose level?
If you are uneasy about your blood sugar levels and looking for answers related to them, make sure you go through this post. As we go further, we will discuss its symptoms, causes, and some natural ways to control blood sugar levels. Also, we have mentioned the names of the best supplements to manage this condition at the end.
What Are Insulin And Glucagon, And How Do They Work?
Whenever we talk about the blood glucose level of a person, we cannot ignore talking about the insulin and glucagon hormones. These hormones are known to work together and have a significant role in managing the blood sugar levels of individuals. Both glucagon and insulin assist in achieving homeostasis, a state where your body’s condition becomes completely steady from the inside.
When you intake carbohydrates by eating a food item, your body functions toward changing them into glucose. For those who don’t know, glucose works as a significant energy source for your body and is popular as a simple sugar.
But one thing you should notice is that your body will never use this glucose altogether. So, you may wonder, what does the body do with glucose? Well, it changes some of it into storage molecules known as glycogen and keeps it stored in the muscles and liver.
So, suppose your body is in need of energy. In that case, it will take the assistance of glucagon available in the liver to convert the stored glycogen into glucose. This glucose travels from the liver to your body’s bloodstream. And there, you will find insulin which enables the glucose to go into cells, which results in your body getting energy to perform its various functions.
Islet cells (pancreatic cells) present in the pancreas are responsible for releasing glucagon and insulin. These cells are classified into two categories: Alpha cells and Beta cells. So, knowing glucagon and insulin are hormones that control your body’s blood sugar levels, let’s see how these hormones function inside your body.
Functioning Of Insulin Inside Your Body
So, the primary function of insulin is to allow glucose to enter the cells of your body, which gives your body energy to perform its functions.
Insulin binds itself to the insulin receptors, which are present throughout your body. And insulin works by instructing the receptors to open so that the glucose can enter the cells.
You will find that insulin is always traveling inside your body, although in small amounts. However, suppose your body faces a significant increase in insulin levels. In that case, it means that your body’s sugar level is more than usual or extremely high. Such a situation leads the liver to take in more glucose and bring out more glycogen.
Furthermore, when these glucose levels start dropping, glucagon makes the liver change the glycogen back to sugar. And this ultimately gets your blood glucose levels to return to normal.
Functioning Of Glucagon Inside Your Body
Your liver keeps glucose stored for the times when your body faces low sugar levels. There can be many reasons why you can have low sugar levels, where the common ones are not getting enough nutrition from the diet or skipping meals too often.
So, storing glucose is the way your liver makes sure that your blood sugar levels stay healthy or normal during the break between meals and when you sleep.
Whenever your body’s blood sugar levels drop, your pancreas becomes active. It releases glucagon, which ends up with two processes coming into action called glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis. Your liver facilitates glucose production using both of these processes.
In a process like Glycogenolysis, glucagon directs your liver to change glycogen to sugar. And this way, your bloodstream has more access to glucose.
On the other hand, in a process like gluconeogenesis, your liver gets more glucose from the other processes’ byproducts. Such a process can even occur in your kidneys and other body organs.
So, when your body’s glucose level comes back to normal or starts rising, insulin helps the process by enabling glucose to enter the cells.
By learning the working of insulin and glucagon, you know that these hormones work in a cycle. While glucagon helps with increasing your blood glucose levels, insulin, on the other hand, gets your blood sugar levels low. So, ultimately, both hormones are responsible for the healthy functioning of your blood glucose levels.
What Controls The Blood Glucose Level?
To answer this question in a single line, the pancreatic hormones insulin and glucagon are responsible for controlling blood glucose levels. Your blood glucose level cannot stay the same throughout the day and keeps on varying, with the amount not being too much in normal conditions. And to keep these levels within the healthy range, both glucagon and insulin have particular roles.
So, your blood glucose level stays high when your body fails to convert or absorb the required glucose. Then, to bring these sugar levels back to normal, insulin helps with lowering your body’s blood glucose levels. And insulin does this by providing enough glucose to your body cells by enabling the glucose to enter so the cells can produce enough energy.
On the other hand, when your blood glucose levels turn low, your pancreas secretes glucagon. Your body’s glucagon tells your liver to secrete the glucose, resulting in the rise of your blood sugar levels.
There are two terms you should know about, which are “Hyperglycemia” and “Hypoglycemia.” The term hyperglycemia is used to define the high blood glucose levels in a person. When your body continuously faces high blood sugar levels, it can suffer some significant damage throughout.
On the other hand, hypoglycemia refers to low blood glucose levels. Its first signs are dizziness and faintness. And such a condition can be highly dangerous.
Which Gland Controls Blood Glucose Levels?
Pancreatic glands are responsible for the functioning of hormones like insulin and glucagon. And, as already mentioned, both glucagon and insulin help maintain your body’s blood sugar levels. The primary function of your pancreas is to maintain balanced blood glucose levels. You can find this large gland behind the stomach.
Also, your pancreas produces glucagon, insulin, other hormones like somatostatin (which manages insulin and glucagon release), etc. Health conditions like diabetes occur when your pancreas doesn’t produce sufficient insulin. Also, if your body fails to use insulin correctly, your chances of developing diabetes will increase drastically.
If a person develops diabetes, they will need the help of supplements or prescriptions suggested by their doctor to keep their blood sugar levels under safe limits. As we progress in this post, you will find the list of the best supplements to control blood sugar levels.
How Will I Know Whether I Have Low Or High Blood Sugar, And What Causes These Conditions?
You can experience low or high blood sugar levels because of abnormal changes in glucagon levels. The causes for why you will experience these conditions can vary from one another. Furthermore, both conditions’ symptoms can vary, while few can be the same.
So, let’s start by understanding what causes high blood sugar levels and what causes it. After that, we can check the causes and symptoms of low blood glucose levels.
High Blood Sugar Levels (Hyperglycemia)
Diabetes is one of the health problems that cause high blood glucose. However, there are other causes, too, that can cause high blood glucose in a person, including:
- numerous pancreatic conditions, like pancreatic cancer
- drug usage, for example, corticosteroids
- Cushing’s syndrome and different endocrine issues
Normally, you may not notice you have high blood sugar unless some complications happen.
Some common signs and symptoms of high blood glucose levels include:
- increased urination, surpassing the normal
- extreme thirst
- unwanted weight loss
If this condition goes unnoticed for a longer period, you may face the following symptoms:
- more hunger
- slow healing of wounds
- dry, itchy skin
- increased rate of infections
- headaches
- blurred vision
- fatigue and lower concentration
Low Blood Sugar Levels (Hypoglycemia)
You can face hypoglycemia upon taking your diabetes medication/s empty stomach. A few examples of these medications include glipizide or insulin. However, that is not the only reason for you to have low blood glucose levels.
Some of the causes of hypoglycemia include:
- starvation or malnutrition
- liver disease
- sepsis
- major consumption of alcohol
- use of certain medications
Some common symptoms and signs of low blood sugar are:
- fainting and dizziness
- increased heartbeat
- more irritability and anxiety
- excessive hunger
- lack of concentration and more confusion
- sweating
If you don’t treat your hypoglycemia for a longer time, you can have seizures or become unconscious.
How Can You Check Your Blood Glucose Level, And At What Time?
From the above, you can notice that maintaining your blood sugar levels is extremely important. Not taking the right actions at the right time can lead to many health complications like kidney disease, heart disease, and vision loss. So, keeping your blood glucose level in a balanced state can help you stay healthy and energetic.
To stay aware of abnormal blood glucose levels, you can use devices that update you on your sugar levels. A glucometer or a blood glucose meter can tell your levels of blood sugar. All you need to do is to keep a drop of your blood on this device from your fingertip.
Your blood glucose levels are measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl). The balanced range of blood glucose can vary based on when you test it or before and after having food. If you’re testing sugar levels before eating, your results must range between 80 and 130 mg/dl. On the other hand, if you’re testing the blood glucose levels after two hours of eating, your result must be less than 180 mg/dl.
Now, you may wonder when you should check your blood sugar levels. Well, it will depend on the diabetic condition you have. Also, if you are taking some diabetes medicines, your test time can differ.
So, depending on the points mentioned above, let’s see when is the best time for you to check your blood glucose levels:
- Make sure to check these levels when you wake up in the morning before drinking or eating anything.
- Before having a meal.
- Two hours after having a meal.
- At bedtime.
Some patients with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes may need to check their blood sugar levels more often. Make sure you confirm this with your healthcare provider.
When Should You Visit Your Healthcare Provider About Your Blood Glucose Levels?
For people experiencing any of the symptoms of low or high blood sugar previously mentioned, you should definitely visit your doctor. As these problems can give birth to other dangerous health conditions in your body, don’t risk it and visit your healthcare provider right away.
Now, if you have diabetes and frequently face high or low blood sugar levels, don’t waste a second and contact your healthcare provider. Usually, your glucagon levels will not be measured since you already have diabetes. However, your doctor may make some changes in your current medications and may suggest some lifestyle changes in order to maintain the changes in blood sugar levels.
If you are experiencing other symptoms besides those we mentioned in the signs and symptoms section, tell your healthcare provider about them. If you ignore or hide your other symptoms, the problem of abnormal blood sugar levels can become worse.
Best Ways To Control Your Blood Glucose Levels Naturally
Suppose you want to manage your prediabetes or diabetes naturally without taking much help from supplements and prescribed medications. In that case, there are various ways through which you can manage that. By taking proper quality sleep, exercising regularly, eating food rich in fiber, and eating more probiotics, you can control your blood sugar levels in natural ways.
So, let’s see some evidence-based and easy ways by which you can naturally manage your blood glucose levels.
1. Daily Exercise
One of the primary reasons why patients with diabetes must do regular exercise is so that they can enhance insulin sensitivity. It is crucial to have more insulin sensitivity, as it makes it easier for your cells to use the sugar present in the bloodstream.
Furthermore, people who have diabetes can experience enhanced energy and better muscle contraction if they do daily exercise.
2. Balance The Carb Intake
A person’s carb intake directly affects their blood glucose levels. When someone consumes too many carbs, their body can struggle with breaking them into sugars. This can hinder the insulin functioning inside your body, resulting in increased blood glucose levels.
Even ADA (American Diabetes Association) recommends that individuals with diabetes must manage their carb consumption. You must be aware of how many carbs you take in a day.
There are various studies that mention having a lower-carb diet can help lower blood sugar levels. However, this doesn’t mean you should completely stop having a diet with carbs in it. You need them when you monitor your blood glucose. Instead, try increasing the consumption of a whole-grain diet, as it can help manage your blood glucose levels.
3. Consume Foods Rich In Fiber
As fibers are carbohydrates that are hard to break, consuming them can slow down carb digestion. And with slow digestion of carbs, sugar absorption also becomes slow. Ultimately, you will notice a slow rise in your blood sugar levels.
Insoluble and soluble are two types of fiber. Undoubtedly, both fibers have some roles, but soluble fiber has shown some results in improving a person’s blood sugar levels. On the other hand, insoluble fiber has no role in managing blood sugar.
By consuming a high-fiber diet, your body can manage blood sugar and prevent low blood glucose levels. Vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and fruits are the best ways to consume fiber. For males, the recommended fiber consumption amount is 35 grams daily. On the other hand, females need 25 grams of fiber daily.
4. Eat More Food With Probiotic
Probiotics or healthy bacteria provide various health benefits, one of which is better blood glucose regulation. Studies mention that probiotics can lower increasing blood sugar, like HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin). Furthermore, having them in your diet can lower your body’s insulin resistance, especially for people with type 2 diabetes.
Other studies have found that individuals notice greater improvements in blood glucose levels upon consuming various types of probiotics for a few weeks period.
Some common examples of foods rich in probiotics include:
- yogurt
- kimchi
- tempeh
- kefir
- sauerkraut
5. Get Proper Quality Sleep
Taking quality sleep can help your body to fight various health issues. People with diabetes need around 7 to 8 hours of sleep, so their bodies can function well toward maintaining their blood sugar levels.
Not having a proper sleep can affect your blood glucose levels negatively. Furthermore, you can experience decreased insulin sensitivity. And such a situation can make you more prone to type 2 diabetes. Such an unhealthy balance can encourage weight gain and enhance your appetite.
Other than that, lack of sleep can lead to increased hormone cortisol levels. This hormone has a vital role in managing blood sugar. Increased cortisol levels can cause many health problems, like a rise in heart rate and blood pressure.
So, to enhance your sleep quality, here are some tips you can try:
- create a fixed sleeping schedule
- try to limit taking naps
- do regular exercise
- avoid taking alcohol and caffeine before going to sleep
- consider taking a warm bath before preparing to sleep
- avoid using your phone before bed
- use meditation to become relaxed
The Best Supplements To Try For Controlling Blood Sugar Levels
While natural ways can help you maintain your blood sugar levels, a patient with diabetes must take some medications and supplements so they don’t face any unexpected changes. However, there is a huge market for blood sugar control supplements, and one might get confused or buy the wrong product.
So, how can you save yourself from buying a poor supplement for your diabetes? The answer to all your problems is us at Lose Fat Now. Our weight loss and medical experts team has considered hundreds of products in the market. We have selected a few of the best products from those hundred that have a high chance of showing positive results.
You can pick the right supplement for yourself from our section on blood glucose control. Some of the best products you can find on our website include:
1. GlucoTrust
GlucroTrust blood sugar control supplements have shown excellent results among men and women in their 30s and 70s. Furthermore, this product has zero side effects regardless of your shape, age, or family medical history.
GlucoTrust uses a Triple Action process which supports balanced blood sugar. Furthermore, this product maintains your blood sugar and helps with fast and safe weight loss.
Made with 100% natural products, you can use GlucoTrust without worrying about the consequences.
2. BetaBeat
If you’re looking for an entirely naturally made supplement that can support your body’s healthy glucose levels and work as a natural weight loss at the same time, you should definitely try BetaBeat.
BetaBeat has helped numerous individuals to get their blood sugar levels under control. And, if you’re hesitating about whether to purchase this product, know that this product comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
This blood control supplement is made with a combination of eight herbal ingredients, which are:
- maca root
- guarana
- grape seeds
- African mango
- ginseng
- copper
- astragalus
- coleus
Order now to get quick results for controlling your blood sugar and losing weight.
3. Glucofort
You’re never too old to use the Glucofort supplement, as it has shown the same results in people between their 30s and 70s. Glucofort is designed using the teaching of longest-living doctors. So, trying this product guarantees you the best results.
Whether this blood sugar control supplement is safe is something you can confirm from its past thousand of users with zero complaints. If you don’t notice any great results using this product, you can always return it within 60 days of purchase to get your money back.
Furthermore, you can enjoy great bonuses by purchasing three or six bottles of Glucofort supplements. So, stop thinking and book a combo of this supplement now!
Conclusion
So, we hope you got the answer for what controls the blood glucose level and when is the right time to visit your healthcare provider. Both insulin and glucagon hormones have their roles in balancing your blood sugar levels. An increase or decrease in these hormones can lead to blood sugar complications. For people with diabetes, it is best to use the right supplements and do natural activities to control blood sugar levels.
Visit Lose Fat Now to get the best product and services to lose weight and control blood sugar. Our vendors are verified and have the best product options for you. So take a step forward to become healthy with Lose Fat Now as your partner.