High blood sugar is a condition where the blood glucose levels in the body increase to dangerously high levels due to something we eat or as the result of a medication. According to the Nemours Foundation, glucose is taken from the foods that we eat and then turned into energy. When a person ingests too much sugar or has a condition such as diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high. Chronic high blood sugar levels can even lead to problems like heart disease and kidney failure, according to the Nemours Foundation. Eating healthy foods that digest slowly can help to decrease high blood sugar levels.
Meats
The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University states that only foods which contain carbohydrates raise blood sugar levels. Foods with only dietary protein and fat do not raise blood sugar levels and in fact can help to decrease them. Meats like beef, chicken, turkey and pork do not have any carbohydrates naturally, unless added in seasonings. The Linus Pauling Institute states that meats can help to decrease high blood sugar levels.
Peanuts
The glycemic index of a food measures how quickly the food turns to sugar in the body once it is eaten, on a scale of 1 to 100. For example, table sugar has the highest score of 100. Foods with glycemic index scores under 50 turn into sugar in the body very slowly and take a long time to digest. This means that they help to reduce high blood sugar levels. Peanuts have a low glycemic index of 14, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. This means that eating peanits can help to reduce high blood sugar levels.
Lentils
Lentils prove another healthy food to eat in order to reduce high blood sugar levels. The Linus Pauling Institute states that lentils have a glycemic index of only 29 and a cup of lentils has only 18 g of carbohydrates. Lentils are also a complex carbohydrate which means that unlike simple carbohydrates like white bread, they are rich in fiber which helps to slow absorption and decrease blood sugar levels.
Skim Milk
You can reduce high blood sugar levels by drinking skim or fat free milk. Skim milk has a glycemic index of 32, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. In addition to having a low glycemic index, skim milk proves rich in protein which can stabilize blood glucose levels.
About this Author
Sarah Davis earned her bachelor’s degree in nutrition from San Diego State University. She has worked in nutrition in the clinical setting and currently works as a licensed Realtor in California. Davis began writing about nutrition in 2006 and had two chapters published in “The Grocery Store Diet” book in 2009. She enjoys writing about nutrition and real estate and managing her website, RealtorSD.com.
