There are many factors that can affect your blood sugar levels, making it difficult to keep them within the range recommended by your doctor. Some of these factors are listed below.

Food

Healthy eating habits are necessary for living a healthy life in general, but it is especially important for people with diabetes to be mindful of what they eat and how it will affect their blood sugar levels. It is important to consider not only the types of food you are eating, but also how much food you are eating and what combination of food types you are eating.

What to do:

Many diabetes management plans involve learning how to count carbohydrates. This is because carbohydrates often have a large impact on blood sugar levels. For people taking mealtime insulin, it is important to know how many carbohydrates are in their food so that they can take the proper insulin dose.
Portion size is important for each food type. To simplify meal planning, write down portions for foods you eat often. To ensure proper portion size and an accurate carbohydrate count, use measuring cups or a scale.
} Every meal should be a balanced mix of starches, fruits and vegetables, proteins, and fats. Try to choose healthier options for carbohydrates.
Some carbohydrates, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, are better for you than others because they have fiber that helps keep your blood sugar levels more stable.
Coordinate your meals and medications. Too little food in proportion to your diabetes medications — especially insulin — may result in dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Too much food may cause your blood sugar level to climb too high (hyperglycemia). Talk to your diabetes health care team about how to best coordinate meal and medication schedules.
It's best to avoid sugar-sweetened beverages if you have diabetes since they often tend to be high in calories while offering little nutrition. Furthermore, these drinks cause blood sugar to rise quickly.
The only time you shouldn't drink sugar-sweetened beverages to raise your blood sugar is if you're already experiencing a high blood sugar level.

Exercise

Physical activity is key to managing your diabetes. When you exercise, your muscles use sugar (glucose) for energy. Regular physical activity also helps your body use insulin more efficiently.

Strenuous and light activities both lower your blood sugar levels, with the former's effects lasting longer. Housework, gardening, and being on your feet can all improve blood sugar levels.

What to do:

You can also do vigorous aerobic activity for 75 minutes a week. You should discuss an exercise plan with your doctor. They will be able to tell you what kind of exercise would be most beneficial for you. It is recommended that most adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week. This equates to approximately 30 minutes a day, on most days of the week. Vigorous aerobic activity should be scheduled for 75 minutes a week.
If you have not been active for a while, your doctor may want to check your overall health before advising you on how much aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise you should do.
Keep an exercise schedule. Talk to your doctor about the best time of day for you to exercise so that your workout routine is coordinated with your meal and medication schedules.
Know your numbers. Talk to your doctor about what blood sugar levels are appropriate for you before you begin exercise.
1. Check your blood sugar level before, during and after exercise 2. especially if you take insulin or medications that lower blood sugar 3. Exercise can lower your blood sugar levels even up to a day later, especially if the activity is new to you, or if you're exercising at a more intense level. 4. Be aware of warning signs of low blood sugar, such as feeling shaky, weak, tired, hungry, lightheaded, irritable, anxious or confused.
If your blood sugar is below 90 mg/dL, have a small snack before exercising to prevent a low blood sugar level.

Medication

The purpose of insulin and other diabetes medications is to lower blood sugar levels when diet and exercise are not enough to manage diabetes. The medications work best when the dose is timed and sized correctly. Medications taken for other conditions can also affect blood sugar levels.

What to do:

Store insulin properly. Insulin that's improperly stored or past its expiration date may not be effective. Insulin is especially sensitive to extremes in temperature.
Report problems to your doctor. If your diabetes medications cause your blood sugar level to drop too low or if it's consistently too high, the dosage or timing may need to be adjusted.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if any new medications you're considering or are prescribed for another condition may affect your blood sugar levels.
If your doctor suggests an alternate medication, be sure to check with them before taking any new over-the-counter medication, as it may have an impact on your blood sugar levels.

Illness

When you're sick, your body produces stress-related hormones that help your body fight the illness, but they also have the potential to raise your blood sugar level. Changes in your appetite and normal activity can also complicate diabetes management.

What to do:

Plan ahead. Work with your health care team to create a sick-day plan. Include instructions on what medications to take, how often to measure your blood sugar and urine ketone levels, how to adjust your medication dosages, and when to call your doctor.
Continue to take your diabetes medication. However, if you're unable to eat because of nausea or vomiting, contact your doctor. In these situations, you may need to adjust your insulin dose or temporarily reduce or withhold short-acting insulin or diabetes medication because of a risk of hypoglycemia. However, do not stop your long-acting insulin. During times of illness it is important to monitor your blood sugars frequently, and your doctor may instruct you also to check your urine for the presence of ketones.
adhere to your diabetes mellitus meal plan. If you're able to, consuming like you typically would certainly assist you preserve your blood glucose levels in check. Keep a stock of foods that are gentle on your belly, like gelatin, saltines, soups and also applesauce.
It's important to drink lots of fluids every day to stay hydrated. If you're taking insulin, you may need to drink sugar-sweetened beverages, such as juice or a sports drink, to keep your blood sugar level from dropping too low.

Alcohol

If you drink alcohol, your liver may not be able to release stored sugar to counteract falling blood sugar levels, which can result in low blood sugar levels for up to 24 hours afterwards.

What to do:

It is advisable to get your doctor's opinion before consuming alcohol if you have diabetes, as it can intensify diabetes-related complications such as nerve damage and eye disease. However, if your diabetes is controlled and your doctor approves, then having the occasional alcoholic drink is acceptable.
In order to be considered moderate drinkers, women should consume no more than one drink per day, and men over the age of 65 should consume no more than two drinks per day. One drink is equivalent to a 12-ounce beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.
Don't drink alcoholic beverages on an empty stomach. If you take insulin or other diabetes medications, be sure to eat before you drink, or drink with a meal to prevent low blood sugar.
Choose your drinks carefully. Light beer and dry wines have fewer calories and carbohydrates than do other alcoholic drinks. If you prefer mixed drinks, sugar-free mixers — such as diet soda, diet tonic, club soda or seltzer — won't raise your blood sugar.
Tally your calories. Remember to include the calories from any alcohol you drink in your daily calorie count. Ask your doctor or dietitian how to incorporate calories and carbohydrates from alcoholic drinks into your diet plan.
Check your blood sugar level before bed. Because alcohol can lower blood sugar levels long after you've had your last drink, check your blood sugar level before you go to sleep. If your blood sugar isn't between 100 and 140 mg/dL (5.6 and 7.8 mmol/L), have a snack before bed to counter a drop in your blood sugar level.

Menstruation and menopause

The hormones produced the week before and during menstruation can result in large changes in blood sugar levels.

What to do:

Look for patterns. Keep careful track of your blood sugar readings from month to month. You may be able to predict fluctuations related to your menstrual cycle.
Adjust your diabetes treatment plan as needed. Your doctor may recommend changes in your meal plan, activity level or diabetes medications to make up for blood sugar variation.
Check blood sugar more frequently. If you're likely approaching menopause or experiencing menopause, talk to your doctor about whether you need to monitor your blood sugar level more often. Symptoms of menopause can sometimes be confused with symptoms of low blood sugar, so whenever possible, check your blood sugar before treating a suspected low to confirm the low blood sugar level.

Although most forms of birth control are fine for women with diabetes, some oral contraceptives might cause blood sugar levels to rise in some women.

Reasons Exercise Is Bad For You

5. Exercise Can Destroy Diets

It is very hard to make nutritional changes while engaging in heavy exercise patterns.

The Fix:

The first phase of my “REV Diet” book involves reducing calories and detoxifying the body, but a key component of that phase is limited exercise. Yoga is a good substitute for exercise during this time because it doesn't burn a significant number of calories.

4. Exercise Causes Inflammation

Intense and high volume exercise can cause significant free radical damage due to the increased production of free radicals. This oxidative stress from free radicals can damage cellular proteins, membranes and genes, leading to chronic inflammation.

3. Exercise Is Stressful

The adrenal glands are two small glands located on top of the kidneys. They produce hormones like norepinephrine, cortisol and DHEA, which allow the body to respond to and make adjustments to physical or emotional stress. If the intensity and frequency of the stress becomes too great, the adrenal glands can become exhausted and the hormones they produce can become depleted, resulting in serious imbalances that can cause issues like estrogen dominance in women or testosterone deficiencies in men. The end result is a tired, chronically fatigued individual who has disrupted sleep, low libido, worn-out looking eyes, a set and stressed jawline, and a “skinny fat” body look no matter how much exercise they do.

The Fix:

In order to fix adrenal exhaustion, in addition to lowering exercise and focusing on recovery, you can take complete rest and recovery, avoid caffeine and central nervous system stimulants, and incorporate stress-fighting and cortisol-stabilizing compounds like maca root powder and phosphatidylserine supplements.

2. Exercise damages the joints.

I was playing on the trail with my boys yesterday when I saw a man running with a scowl on his face. Maybe he was in a bad mood because he had a knee brace on his right leg, an exercise strap above his left IT band, and a compression sleeve on his elbow. Even though his body was falling apart, he was still trying to run. Some people are addicted to exercise and they'll keep doing it even though it's harmful to their bodies. I used to work with a sports medicine physician, and a lot of the endurance athletes we saw were trying to figure out how they could still do their marathon or triathlon even though they had plantar fasciitis, IT band friction syndrome, or shoulder tendonitis.Braces, bands, sleeves, and cortisol shots may help you complete an event, but they can also damage your joints. If you don't mind the pain of knee and hip replacements, then go ahead and keep using them. Otherwise, it's probably best to stop.

The Fix:

The best way to avoid injury while exercising is to vary the surfaces you run on and the motions you make. Running, cycling, and swimming only use one plane of motion, so mix in some activities like tennis, basketball, and soccer that involve side-to-side motions. Also, make sure to exercise different muscle groups so you don't put too much strain on any one area. If you're in pain, take a break and find something else to do.

1. Exercise Causes Premature Aging

The author of the article discusses how people who exercise excessively can begin to look worn and aged. This is due to the fact that the heart, back, and cartilage all have a finite number of beats and shocks they can take. Once someone reaches their quota, their body begins to fail. Combined with other conditions, this can lead to a prematurely aged and broken down body.

The Fix:

I interviewed Arthur de Vany about why a combination of sprint interval training and brief, heavy bouts of weight training is probably better for the aging individual. When this type of protocol is combined with very limited amounts of steady endurance exercise, goals like Ironman triathlon or marathoning can still be completed without excessive body aging.

These are the top 10 reasons why exercise is bad for you. Chronic, repetitive motion exercise is not good for your body or your brain. You should reconsider your priorities if you are stuck in that rut.