Monitoring blood glucose levels is certainly a key part of everyday life for those with diabetes, but, in truth, swathes of the population could benefit from keeping tabs on their daily sugar levels.
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 an increased risk of diabetes and accelerated ageing.
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.
"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."
Dieters can quell blood sugar spikes by adjusting the order of their food intakeGETTYTo improve insulin sensitivity, Cayleigh advised managing day-to-day stress by practising mindfulness and prioritising quality sleep.
A medically-proven way to reduce anxiety, mindfulness is accessible to everyone, and has boomed in popularity to aid individuals with stress management and overall well-being, the American Psychological Association confirmed.
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.
Adults need around seven to nine hours of sleep each night to allow the brain and body to repair itself, ready for the next day.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
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 routine are all ways to put yourself in the best position for a good night's rest.
A second way to control your blood sugar levels is by moving after meal times, the expert said.
"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 dietitian explained.
"This small habit can have powerful effects over time."
Moving after mealtimes is a great way to help lower post-meal sugar levels
GETTY
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.
However, the expert said: "Exercise impacts your blood sugar quickly, often within a few minutes.
"And over time, physical activity helps your body use insulin more effectively, decreasing the insulin resistance we often see in diabetes."
Still, she warned that the quick tip is not a "magical solution for diabetes", despite it being a "great habit that benefits blood sugar". After all, controlling sugar levels and managing diabetes cannot be solved by one behaviour alone.
