
Being diagnosed with Type I diabetes can be devastating, and it’s a full time job to keep your blood sugars under control. No matter what anyone says!
Sometimes, you may find yourself with blood sugar levels that are higher than normal (let’s say around 150 or in the 8’s mmol, for example), but not high enough to require taking more insulin.
You won’t feel very good with the higher blood sugar, but taking medication or injecting insulin can make your blood sugar TOO low. Keep reading for my top 13 tips to lower your blood sugar naturally.
So what can you do to lower your blood sugar up to 40 (2.2mmol) points without taking more medication?
My Top 13 Tips
Try the following these 13 tips and see if you can lower your blood sugar naturally.
Health Disclaimer:Â As always, you need to be careful to monitor your sugar levels so as not to become hypoglycemic (that’s when your blood sugar is too low, which is dangerous). Iâm not a doctor and donât know you so please talk to your doctor or have a good think before making any changes to your diet. And remember, these 13 tips for lowering blood sugar may not work for you as everyone is different.
Control Your Carbs

Carbs are energy and will all turn into sugar eventually, and everybody should make an effort to control their carb intake, especially diabetics.
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Lower the Carbs
Effects seen:Â Immediate
Your diet is something you want to talk to your doctor about, but the simple fact is that a lower carb diet makes it easier to maintain stable blood sugar levels. It’s part of why you’re hearing so much about the Keto and Paleo Diet these days.
Carbohydrates are found in starchy foods â root vegetables, grains, rice, and legumes â and all of their by-products, like bread, pasta, sushi, fries, mashed potatoes, and even lentil soup.
As someone who has been diabetic for nearly 4 years, I can swear that eating a diet low in carbohydrates, but rich in leafy greens, nuts, dark fruits like berries, and lean meats has had an amazing effect on my blood sugar control.
I get all of the nutrients that I need without consuming grains.
It takes a lot more effort to choose low-carb snacks over something as delicious as crisps and cakes, but it makes a huge difference in the way that I feel.
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Spread Out the Carbs
Effects seen:Â Immediate
For the carbohydrates that you do eat, try to spread them out evenly throughout the day. For instance, if you really love apples, but eating an entire apple raises your blood sugar, simply eat your apple wedge by wedge over the course of a few hours, rather than all at once.

The apple will likely raise your blood sugar, but not in a huge spike. If you can keep your blood sugar levels steadier (without big jumps and drops), you’ll feel less hungry and grumpy.
Get Up and Move
Exercise helps in the short term by immediately lowering blood sugar, and in the long term helps your body burn glucose more efficiently.

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Get a Little Light Exercise
Effects seen:Â Within 1 hour
Light exercise can lower your blood sugar level, often within minutes. I’m talking about a brisk walk or bicycle ride â not a long run or weight lifting.
A walk around the block has always been my go-to technique for lowering my blood sugar and also works as a de-stressor when youâre high and your heartbeat is racing.
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Weight Training
Effects seen:Â Long term
Strength training may temporarily raise your blood sugar, but over time, it will help you build the kind of muscle that can burn glucose more efficiently.

Drink Up
There are lots of drinks that can bring your blood sugar down quickly, too.

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Unsweetened Tea
Effects seen:Â Within 30 minutes
Unsweetened black, white, and green tea can help lower your blood sugar within as little as a half hour. Green tea supplements also have a positive effect on blood sugar levels.
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A Glass of Red Wine
Effects seen:Â Within 1 hour
Many kinds of alcohol have the effect of lowering overall blood sugar levels (beer may have the opposite effect because of the total carbohydrate content).
Red wine lowers your blood sugar by preventing the absorption of glucose by the intestines and actually stops the liver working.
Keep in mind that alcohol is not an effective long-term blood glucose control, because it can contribute to the build-up of liver fat.
Take a Supplement

Lots of people take supplements for long-term health benefits, but these will bring down blood sugar relatively quickly.
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Cinnamon
Effects seen:Â Within 1 hour
Cinnamon has been shown to reduce blood sugars, it slows the breakdown of carbs in the digestive tract, which moderates the rise in blood sugar after a meal.
Cinnamon also acts in a similar way as insulin, although at a much slower rate.
In order to take enough cinnamon to lower your blood sugar, take it in capsule form. I take approximately 3,000 mg at each meal or half a teaspoon every morning.
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Chromium
Effects seen:Â Within 1 hour
Supplemental chromium has been shown to lower blood sugar levels, lipids, A1C, and insulin in diabetic patients. It can also help decrease your appetite, particularly for sweets.
A dosage from 200 mcg to 2,000 mcg a day is safe. Higher doses are unnecessary and can cause acute kidney failure. I get mine here
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Green Tea Extract
Effects seen:Â Within 1 hour
Green tea contains the bioflavinoid epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which has been shown to be a safe and effective antioxidant. In a study in Japan, green tea was shown to reduce the risk for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus onset.
It has been shown to improve glucose tolerance in patients, and decrease blood sugar production and over-secretion in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients.
If you’re not a fan of drinking tea, you can also take green tea extract in pill form. This looks like a good choice here.
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Fenugreek Powder
Effects seen:Â Within 1 hour
The seeds contain fiber and other chemicals that may slow digestion and the bodyâs absorption of carbohydrates and sugar. The seeds may also help improve how the body uses sugar and increases the amount of insulin released.
I first started using it to help with my milk production when my babies were born. I then noticed how my sugar levels were going down after taking them and I realised what a great supplement it is for diabetics. This is the one I use most days (when I need it mostly).
Fenugreek is a laxative, so don’t take too much.
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Apple Cider Vinegar
Effects seen:Â Within several hours
Apple cider vinegar has been shown to help control blood sugar levels in diabetics, here is a great in-depth article from Mercola on the wonders of Apple Cider. If you don’t want to drink a couple tablespoons of it, it also comes in an extract, which can be easier to take.
Note that apple cider vinegar takes longer to lower blood sugar levels than other supplements, and may be more effective as a preventative measure than as a reactive one. It also has effects on your teeth so try using a straw with this one.
And if you can’t get your hands on any of the foods, beverages, supplements, and exercise equipment noted above, take a few deep breaths.
De-Stress Yourself
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Scale Back on Stress
Effects seen:Â Long term
Stressful situations can release hormones that will raise your blood sugar . If you are feeling anxious, try relaxation techniques like meditation and deep breathing to lower your blood sugar.
Here is a great little 5 minute meditation you can try right now here on YouTube.
Or you could scream and punch your pillow until you feel better.

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Get More Sleep
Effects seen:Â Long term
Getting enough sleep is a good way to help lessen your body’s insulin resistance. You might notice that you have higher blood sugar when you youâre tired. And you might also notice you reaching for more sugary snacks to keep you awake?

There is also another side to this: When you go sleep with high blood sugar – you don’t sleep well. Itâs a bit of a vicious cycle â once your blood sugars get too high, you won’t sleep well, as you might be getting up to pee all night whilst your kidneys are trying to rid your body of the sugar – so you don’t sleep well and your blood sugars keep climbing.
If you can, scale back on whatever it is that keeps you up late, like scrolling social media, watching TV or drinking too much caffeine too late in the day.
A Quick Note on Diabetes Advice on the Internet:
There are some shockingly ridiculous articles on the Internet (I won’t link to them because they don’t deserve the clicks) that suggest eating foods like melons and grapes to lower your blood sugar. This is hugely false information. Not only will eating melon not lower your blood sugar, it will raise your blood sugar (possibly requiring medication to lower it).
And remember, there are no miracle foods that will cure diabetes, not even Okra will cure you!
What do you do when you need to lower your blood sugar by just a little bit?



































