When I help my clients with diabetes understand how to best manage their blood sugars, of course, I mention nutrition and insulin, but there is a large emphasis on a number of other variables, including, but not limited to the following…
- Hydration – being well hydrated can help your insulin work most efficiently
- Allergies – seasonal, food, medication
- Food sensitivities – if the gut is inflamed, the body is, hence poorer insulin sensitivity
- Stress – good and bad stress can impact blood sugars.
- Movement – move every 30min and exercise every other day
- Hormones – male hormones fluctuate as do females
- Puberty
- Pregnancy
- Excitement
- Public speaking (a form of stress)
- Mood
- Outdoor temps – heat makes some type 1s high (me!), but others it runs blood sugars down.
- Breakdown of the meal fat, protein and carbs
- Activity, bad insulin (this happens),
- sleep duration and quality,
- Altitude and this includes flights. I will go high shortly after takeoff and my blood sugar drops ~30-40 pts after landing.
- the timing of meal the night before (if it was later than the norm, that can throw blood sugars the next day),
- lack of exercise, over-exercising,
- supplements,
- gut health,
- time change, jet lag,
- alcohol, esp if alcohol was drunken the day before
- period, ovulation,
- insulin resistance,
- overeating,
- overdoing carbs, etc.
