5 Strategies for Blood Sugar Regulation

By Lydia Wallie, Nutrition Director

If you notice yourself feeling hangry or moody due to low blood sugar, start by making sure you’re consuming the foundation of a nutrient-dense diet. Then, try some of the strategies below!

1. Vitamin D3. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to insulin resistance. “The results of basic and clinical research support beneficial action of vitamin D in the reduction of insulin resistance and related pathologies.” (1-3) How do you obtain Vitamin D? The most ideal option is to go outside in the sunshine. But during the winter months, you can supplement with D3.

2. Magnesium. “Magnesium supplementation appears to have a beneficial role and improves glucose parameters in people with diabetes and also improves insulin-sensitivity parameters in those at high risk of diabetes.” (4, 5)

3. Turmeric (aka, curcumin). A 9-month curcumin intervention in a prediabetic population significantly lowered the number of prediabetic individuals who eventually developed diabetes. Therefore, curcumin intervention in a prediabetic population may be beneficial. (6)

4. Berberine. Berberine has anti-microbial, glucose- and cholesterol-lowering, anti-tumoral and immunomodulatory properties. (7)

And our favorite…

5. Exercise. “It is now well established that participation in regular physical activity improves blood glucose control and can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes, along with positively affecting lipids, blood pressure, cardiovascular events, mortality, and quality of life.” (8)

Sources:

(1) PMID: 8029165

(2) PMID: 30772337

(3) PMID: 30712741

(4) PMID: 27530471

(5) PMID: 14693979

(6) PMID: 22773702

(7) PMID: 26520899

(8) PMID: 21115758