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 YOU CAN… Control your blood sugar levels better when you eat
What you eat definitely affects how well your blood sugars are controlled, even for people that don't have diabetes. The best goal is to keep your blood sugars from rising or falling too drastically at any time. While this is critical for an individual with diabetes, for a person without diabetes low blood sugars can drain you of energy. Carbohydrates are your body's fast source of energy but simple sugars burn up fast!
a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight. Carbohydrates, especially concentrated sweets, are usually to blame for elevated blood sugars and consequent drops in blood sugar. However, too much fat and overall quantity of food is also important. Healthy carbohydrates from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products should make up 50-60% of your total caloric intake depending on what your caloric needs are. For healthy blood sugars and weight it is important that dietary intake be spread out evenly throughout the day and not concentrated in the evening when activity is usually lighter. All meals should contain carbohydrates as well as protein and fats.  Scientific evidence shows that physical activity done at a moderate-intensity level can produce health benefits. If people have been sedentary, they can improve their health and well-being with regular, moderate levels of activity each day. Moderate-intensity physical activity refers to any activity that burns 3.5 to 7 calories per minute (kcal/min). These levels are equal to the effort a healthy individual might burn while walking briskly, mowing the lawn, dancing, swimming for recreation, or bicycling. If you do not currently engage in regular physical activity, you should begin by incorporating a few minutes of physical activity into each day, gradually building up to 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity activities. If you are currently active, but at less than the recommended levels, you should strive to adopt more consistent activity - moderate-intensity physical activity for 30 minutes or more on 5 or more days of the week, or vigorous-intensity physical activity for 20 minutes or more on 3 or more days of the week. © November 2007
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