Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you know how difficult it can be to control your insulin levels. It is something that is constantly on your mind from the moment you wake to the seconds you drift off to sleep. While it is important for all people, regardless if they have diabetes or not, to make healthy food choices, for people with diabetes, these decisions can have dire consequences. This is because, as explained by Mayo Clinic, diabetes effects how the body uses and processes blood sugar.
When a diabetic's blood sugar is too high, he can experience headaches, trouble concentration, and blurred vision. High blood sugar can also cause frequent infections, especially of the skin and gums. When blood sugar is too low, a person can experience shakiness, sweating, chills, anxiety, confusion, irritability, and a rapid heartbeat. There are many home remedy solutions to help manage insulin levels and keep blood sugar under control. By adopting some or all of the below home remedies, people with diabetes can be more confident of making healthy choices.
Advertisement
1. Cinnamon. The warming spice is known to improve insulin sensitivity, lower blood sugar levels, and help control weight, according to The Health Site. Try adding ground cinnamon to your morning coffee or mixing it in with oatmeal, yogurt or cottage cheese. You can also make cinnamon tea using cinnamon sticks.
2. Ginseng. Studies discussed on WebMD show the ginseng root may help normalize blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, as well as improve insulin sensitivity. It has already been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is just now gaining ground in the Western world.
3. Broccoli. Broccoli contains a compound known as sulforaphane that can reverse the damage diabetes causes to heart blood vessels. Mercola explains, people with diabetes are five times more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases linked to damaged blood vessels. Therefore, it is even more important for people with diabetes to be heart healthy and heart wise than it is for non-diabetics.
4. Sage. A Portuguese study found that sage has anti-diabetic effects and can increase sensitivity to insulin. Drinking sage tea can help diabetics regulate their blood sugar and insulin levels. It has the benefit of also boosting liver function.
5. Green tea. Green tea contains polyphenol, a powerful antioxidant and hypoglycemic compound, known to control the release of blood sugars and regulate insulin. The best way to benefit from green tea is to drink a steaming hot cup before each meal, says The Health Site.
6. Peas. The American Diabetes Association reports that non-starchy vegetables, like peas, can satisfy your appetite and prevent spikes in blood sugar. Other non-starchy vegetables include artichoke, asparagus, beets, carrots, and celery.
7. Flax seeds. According to The Health Site, flax seeds can reduce a diabetic's sugar levels after meals by almost 28 per cent. That is significant. This is because flax seeds are remarkably high in fiber, especially for being so tiny. They aid in digestion and the proper absorption of fats and sugars. To gain the most benefit from flax seeds, consume one tablespoon of ground flaxseed powder every morning on an empty stomach with a glass of warm water.
8. Brown rice. A blog in the New York Times reports brown rice, and other whole grains, can help manage blood sugar levels. This is because, brown rice is high in fiber and has a lower glycemic index than the white (nutrient bare) alternative. In fact, a study at the Harvard School of Public Health linked consumption of white rice with increased risk of diabetes. Further, brown rice contains important nutrients like magnesium, which is essential in regulating the secretion of insulin from the pancreas, and thus regulation of overall blood sugar levels.
Whether or not you are diabetic, we can all learn something from these home remedies. Swapping brown for white rice, drinking green or sage tea, and eating more peas and broccoli are easy life style changes that can lower a non-diabetics's risk of developing diabetes and help a diabetic better manage his or her blood sugar and insulin levels.
Advertisement
What home remedies do YOU use to control your blood sugar and insulin levels? Tell us and SHARE this article on social media!