Have you ever heard that a hangry person attributes their snappiness to their blood sugar being too low? While hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) has been linked to anger, irritation, and an all-around bad mood, many people don’t realize that hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) can be a problem, too. In fact, hyperglycemia is linked with diabetes and prediabetes – two chronic illnesses that affect nearly half of all Americans.

The good news is a few simple lifestyle changes can help you get your blood sugar back down to healthy levels.

Exercise is one of the best ways to lower your blood sugar. That’s because exercise helps you increase insulin sensitivity, meaning your cells can more effectively use the blood sugar that’s already present. Your muscles also use blood sugar for energy and muscle contraction.

If you can, schedule your exercise for after a meal. Glucose levels tend to peak about an hour and a half after a meal, and exercising is one way to reduce blood sugar. Research has shown that a short walk after a meal can lower blood sugar levels – so grab a friend and make a post-meal walk part of your new routine.

The most effective way to lower your blood sugar levels is to understand what causes them to spike in the first place. Your meals, medications, exercise, and even quality of sleep can all impact your blood sugar. By tracking your blood sugar levels throughout the day, you can better pinpoint what lifestyle changes will help lower your blood sugar.

This is a preview of our Pinnacle Health Management Wellness Program toolkit. Employers can obtain our Wellness Program as an add-on, which includes quarterly wellness challenges, wellness toolkits and other educational resources, newsletters on popular health topics, and customized reports at the end of all wellness challenges. If you’d like more information, contact us at 866.930.7264 or at quotes@pinnaclehealthmanagement.com.