People with prediabetes, diabetes or metabolic syndrome often find it difficult to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Elevated blood sugar levels for extended period of time can push someone who is “prediabetic” into having full-blown diabetes. It can also lead to other complications such as fatigue, weight gain and sugar cravings.

Certain foods can throw your blood sugar levels racing up and down like a roller coaster, especially if you have type2 diabetes because of decreased insulin production. However with few careful adjustments in your lifestyle and diet you can have a better control over your blood-sugar levels.

Here are 10 ways you can maintain healthy blood sugar level:

1. Power up on fiber – Getting at least recommended amount of fiber into your diet can help you maintain healthy blood sugar levels. As an added bonus, it will also keep you fuller longer and prevent you from spree eating, thereby help you manage healthy weight.

2. Leafy greens and vegetables – Include more vegetables in your diet and minimize processed meat and dairy. Vegetables are high in fiber and low in carbohydrate, which makes it a perfect food to help control blood sugar levels.

3. Cut down your snacking – Your body is better able to regulate blood sugar levels when you maintain a regular meal schedule. It provides you energy as well as stead blood sugar levels.

4. Befriend smart supplement – There are numerous herbs and supplements that can help maintain healthy blood sugar levels, such as Cinnamon, Chromium, Vitamin B-1, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Green tea, Resveratrol, magnesium  etc. For example Cinnamon has been used in Chinese medicine for more than hundreds of years. It is found helpful in lowering fasting blood glucose levels.

5. Exercise – Regular workout regime not only helps you to maintain healthy weight, it also increases insulin sensitivity. With increased insulin sensitivity, your muscles cells will be able to use available sugar in your bloodstream more efficiently.

6. Good Sleep – Adequate amount of sleep is essential for good health and overall well being. Poor sleep and lack of rest affect blood sugar levels and sensitivity. It also disrupts important metabolic hormones and increases appetite and promotes weight gain.

7. Stress less – Stress can play havoc on your blood sugar levels. Stress leads to increased production of hormones such as glucagon and cortisol which can cause your blood sugar levels to go up.

8. Drink more water – Drinking enough water throughout the day will keep your blood sugar levels within healthy limits. It will also prevent dehydration and help your kidneys flush out excess sugar through urine.

9. Healthy balanced plate – Foods that cause blood sugar level to rise the most are also the one that are high in carbohydrate. Now here is the thing, even though carbohydrates affect blood sugar, if you don’t eat them, your diet will be unbalanced and will lead to excessive consumption of protein and fat. The key here is balance diet. Your diet should include recommended portion of carbohydrate, protein and fat to maintain healthy blood sugar level naturally. A healthy balanced diet is the key to blood sugar management. It will slow down absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, manage your appetite and support your metabolism and digestion.

10. Avoid medicines that causes rise in blood sugar – Drugs for common ailments such as steroids for controlling asthma and statins for controlling cholesterol levels are also found to increase blood sugar levels. Ask your doctor to treat your condition without such side effects.