Keeping your body in good health can be a very in-depth process. With so much to be aware of and monitor, it can also seem overwhelming. One aspect you may not have given much thought to in the past is your blood glucose level. It's important to stay within a healthy range so that you don't increase your risk of heart disease or diabetes. So, what is a healthy range and how can you maintain it? We’ve got three things you need to know about maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.

Why is a Healthy Blood Sugar Level Important?

As mentioned above, there are many reasons why it’s important to keep a healthy blood sugar level, some of which you might not even be aware of. Keeping a healthy and consistent blood sugar level means you lower your risk of developing the following health issues:

• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Vision loss
• Poor wound healing
• Foot ulcers
• Erectile dysfunction
• Permanent nerve damage
• Increased risk of stroke
• Increased risk of heart attack

Did you also know that maintaining a healthy level gives a boost to your mood and your energy level? There are a whole lot of benefits both short and long-term.

Metabolic Health Shows a More Complete Picture

By learning more about your blood sugar level and maintaining a healthy level, you start to take into account total body health. People often get on a scale and use their weight to determine how healthy they are. While weight certainly plays into overall health, it’s only a part of it.

Metabolic health is a more complete picture that breaks things down further, giving you an understanding of how your body is functioning. Learning about your blood sugar level is a big part of understanding metabolic health, and learning more about your body. Besides your blood sugar (glucose), also within the realm of metabolic health are cholesterol, insulin, inflammation, fatty acids, and more. It paints a picture of your health in the moment and what to expect in the future.

Diet and Exercise are Your Best Techniques

In terms of maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, it's quite simple. At the core, it is about eating a healthy well-balanced diet, staying physically active, and maintaining healthy body weight.

Experts suggest you eat a diet high in fresh vegetables and fruit, cut out the trans-fat, cut back on salt and sugar, lower the calories and make water your beverage of choice. It’s also wise to practice portion control so that you don’t eat more calories than what is recommended. You can always refer to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which is a healthy eating plan you can find on the CDC website. It takes all the guesswork out of what to eat and how much to eat. If you're in the healthcare industry and looking for ways to improve drug development, partnering with a reliable company that provides drug development services can help you achieve your goals.

As for exercise, you should be active four to five days a week for at least 30 continuous minutes each day. There are no right and wrong exercises, but there are some that can be better for your blood sugar levels. Some of the best exercises for lowering blood sugar levels are:

• Walking
• Jogging
• Dancing
• Swimming
• Biking
• Tai Chi
• Water aerobics
• Hiking
• Tennis
• Resistance training
• Yard chores

You can adjust the intensity level of each of these exercises to properly match your needs and skill level. All of these tips and information will help you on your quest to achieve and then maintain a healthy blood sugar level. Remember, a healthy blood sugar level will benefit your body in all kinds of direct and indirect ways both now and in the future.
Image Credits:
Image 1: Image by Avondale Pattillo UMC on Flickr
Image 2: Image by Mike Mozart on Flickr