How to Lower your Blood Sugar to Prepare for Surgery
How to Lower your Blood Sugar to Prepare for Surgery
There are a lot of different factors to consider when preparing for sugar. Did you know that patients who have high blood sugar before undergoing major surgery are at increased risk for postoperative complications? If you have high blood sugar, there is an increased risk of developing blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. Read on to learn how you can lower your blood sugar to better prepare for surgery and increase the likelihood of a safer recovery.
Exercise
Exercise has been proven to lower blood sugar. It does so in a few ways. When you exercise, your body’s sensitivity to insulin is increased. When this happens, your body is better able to use the insulin it has available to take up glucose during and after exercise. Another way exercise benefits your blood sugar is what happens when your muscles contract. When you exercise and your muscles contract, your cells can take glucose and use it as energy. This can happen whether insulin is available or not. Short term, these two things can help lower your blood sugar short term. Exercising regularly can have increased benefits as it can lower your average blood sugar levels.
Hydrate
Hydration is another key factor to lowering your blood sugar to prepare for surgery. Your body needs to consume water to function properly. When there is less water in your body, your blood sugar will be more concentrated. Conversely, drinking more water and staying hydrated can lower your blood sugar because of increased levels of water in the body.
Portion Control
Portion control and a healthy diet also contribute to lowering your blood sugar before surgery. Your blood sugar is largely impacted by what you are eating and how much of it you are eating. Specifically foods that are high in carbohydrates impact your blood sugar because carbohydrates have a huge impact on blood sugar. If you are eating smaller portion sizes, you will likely be taking in less carbohydrates, even if you are eating the same meals, because you will be eating less carbs by eating less.
Increase Fiber
Increasing your fiber intake is also key in lowering your blood sugar before surgery. Though fiber is a type of carbohydrate, your body does not break down fiber the way it breaks down other carbs. Your body does not digest fiber, so it does not provide calories or glucose for energy. As a result, eating increased fiber will not cause an increase in blood sugar levels the way eating other carbs may. Beans, broccoli, and fruit are some examples of foods high in fiber.
Lowering or maintaining your blood sugar is an important step in preparing for surgery as it can help decrease your risk of post-op complications. By exercising, staying hydrated, having portion control, and increasing your fiber intake, you can help lower your blood sugar to prepare for surgery. While this may have a positive effect on your body short term, to lower your blood sugar long term, these practices can also help lower your blood sugar if done consistently. Questions about lowering your blood sugar before surgery? Book an appointment or a free consultation with VIP Concierge Care today!