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Home Remedies to Lower Blood Sugar

Uncontrolled high blood sugar causes diabetes, which can result in serious medical complications, disabilities and death. Prescription medications can lower blood sugar, but some people turn to home remedies. Home remedies for decreasing blood sugar levels include making healthy dietary choices, exercising regularly and using supplements.

  1. Function

    • By using home remedies to lower blood sugar, you can avoid the use of prescription medications, which may have serious side effects and require the use of potentially harmful medical equipment such as syringes or lancets.

    Weight Loss

    • A loss of 5 percent to 7 percent of body weight is an effective home remedy for lowering blood sugar by reducing the body's use of insulin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

    Changes to Diet

    • Nutritional changes such as limiting pastries and fats; eating frequent small meals; reducing alcohol consumption; and eating whole grains, fruits and vegetables can lower blood sugar as effectively as some prescription medications, according to the American Diabetes Association.

    Exercise

    • Thirty minutes of exercise, such as walking, dancing or yoga, at least five times each week can lower blood sugar, according to the CDC.

    Supplements

    • Supplements including chromium, ginseng, magnesium and vanadium may lower blood sugar by balancing the body's use of sugar and need for insulin, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Added Benefits

    • In addition to decreasing blood sugar, eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can also lower blood pressure, relieve depression and improve mood, says the CDC.

    Warning

    • When considering home remedies to lower blood sugar, consult your doctor; home remedies should not take the place of any treatments ordered by a physician due to the risk of complications from high blood sugar such as seizures or coma.

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