High blood sugar occurs when your body doesn’t make enough or effectively use insulin, a hormone that regulates blood glucose and helps it enter your cells for energy. High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) is associated with diabetes.

1. Keep an Eye on Your Carb Intake

Paying attention to carbohydrates is important for people with type 2 diabetes. “Carbs are what cause your blood sugars to potentially fluctuate,” Crandall Snyder says.

How many carbs per meal is ideal? “It’s tailored to each individual,” says Weisenberger. How much you exercise, your weight, and your age can all affect how long sugars stay in your system, according to the CDC. A typical starting point for people with diabetes is to limit carb intake to 200 to 245 grams (g) per day, which amounts to about one-half of your daily calories coming from carbs, according to the CDC. From there, make adjustments according to your blood glucose readings or as recommended by a dietitian, Crandall Snyder says.

And keep in mind that carbs aren’t only found in the usual culprits, like bread, potatoes, and pasta. They are also in fruits, vegetables, sweets, and dairy, so you have to take all of those into consideration as well, Crandall Snyder says.

2. Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise can help you get to and maintain a moderate weight and increase insulin sensitivity. Increased insulin sensitivity means your cells are better able to use the available sugar in your bloodstream. Exercise also helps your muscles use blood sugar for energy and muscle contraction. If you have problems with blood sugar management, you should routinely check your levels. This will help you learn how you respond to different activities and keep your blood sugar levels from getting either too high or too low. Useful forms of exercise include weightlifting, brisk walking, running, biking, dancing, hiking, swimming, and more.

3. Control Stress Levels

If you are trying to keep your blood sugar levels under control, it is important for you to keep your stress levels under control. The hormones which are secreted during stress- glucagon and cortisol, cause blood sugar levels to shoot up. Yoga, meditation and exercising can help you keep stress levels low, and in turn, can help your blood sugar levels to be low.

4. Ayurvedic Remedies For Diabetes

a) Mango Leaves: Mango leaves are known to be an effective home remedy to treat and manage diabetes. You can sun dry some tender mango leaves, grind them to a fine powder and consume it with water daily in the morning and evening. 

b) Fenugreek: A very commonly used herb in the Indian kitchen, fenugreek has many benefits like improving glucose tolerance, lowering blood sugar levels, and stimulating the secretion of glucose dependent insulin. You can consume powdered fenugreek seeds with hot or cold water or milk daily. You can soak 2 tablespoons of fenugreek seeds in water overnight and drink this water on an empty stomach in the morning, daily; to bring down your glucose levels.

c) Sunlight: Many studies have shown that low Vitamin D levels also lead to insulin resistance and diabetes. Vitamin D plays an important role in the production of insulin in the body. Exposing yourself to at least 30 minutes of sunlight daily, in the morning, can help you avoid a Vitamin D deficiency. You can also include foods rich in Vitamin D in your daily diet. Some of these are soy milk, orange juice, yoghurt, cheese and cereals. 

While all these remedies are natural, it is strongly recommended that you consult your doctor before trying any remedies.