All About Glucose: Scientifically-Backed Articles & Information

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Woman in a jacket outdoors standing under a white umbrella

How Weather Can Affect Metabolic Health

August 18, 2022

Temperature and weather can affect numerous health conditions, including blood sugar control and chronic pain. Learn how migraines, heart disease, blood pressure, circulation issues, and even insomnia can all be impacted.

a man and a woman stretching in a grassy area with a cityscape behind them

Glucose

What Factors Affect Blood Sugar Levels?

Julia Zakrzewski, RD

Health & Nutrition Writer

August 15, 2022

When people first start to track their blood sugar, they often zero in on decreasing their intake of refined carbohydrates and sugar. While this can help, there are several other factors that could be affecting your blood glucose levels.

woman wearing a red sweater standing in an outdoor urban area smiling

Glucose

Blood Sugar and Your Immune System

Leann Poston, MD, MBA, M.Ed

Medical Writer

August 9, 2022

Excess blood sugar negatively affects how infection-fighting cells function. Your hardworking immune system needs good nutrition in order to protect you from an onslaught of infectious agents looking for a weak spot in your defenses.

a woman getting her blood pressure checked by a doctor

Glucose

Maintaining Stable Blood Sugar Can Help Reduce the Risk of High Blood Pressure

Leann Poston, MD, MBA, M.Ed

Medical Writer

August 5, 2022

High blood pressure and high blood sugar are a double whammy to your metabolic health that can increase your risk for chronic disease and shorten your lifespan.

glass of diet cola with ice cubes on a wooden table

Glucose

Does Diet Soda Affect Blood Sugar Levels?

Danielle Kelvas, MD

Medical & Health Writer

August 2, 2022

Learn how artificial sweeteners affect blood sugar, how diet soda impacts weight gain, and why your body might thank you for avoiding diet soda altogether.

Glucose

How Long Does It Take to Lower a Blood Sugar Spike?

Julia Zakrzewski, RD

Health & Nutrition Writer

July 29, 2022

A blood sugar spike may happen at some point in your weight loss journey, typically after eating carbs. Your body will respond to bring your glucose levels down to a normal range, but how long will it take?

Glucose

Does Aging Change Blood Glucose Levels?

Leann Poston, MD, MBA, M.Ed

Medical Writer

July 25, 2022

Some people lose the ability to regulate their blood glucose as well as they did when they were younger. Learn about the relationship between aging, glucose levels, and insulin resistance.

woman smiling and looking at her smartphone while walking outdoors

Glucose

How Your Period Can Affect Blood Sugar Levels

Leann Poston, MD, MBA, M.Ed

Medical Writer

July 20, 2022

The menstrual cycle is controlled by hormones. Like most hormones, estrogen and progesterone have multiple effects on your body - including blood sugar levels.

Glucose

How Garlic Can Help Lower Blood Sugar

Julia Zakrzewski, RD

Health & Nutrition Writer

July 18, 2022

Garlic lovers rejoice! There is one more reason to love this aromatic herb: current literature suggests both fresh garlic and garlic supplements can lower blood sugar when eaten consistently. Learn how much to eat to harness these benefits.

Woman smiling at camera with cityscape in the background

Glucose

Vitamin C and Glucose Monitoring

Julia Zakrzewski, RD

Health & Nutrition Writer

July 14, 2022

Vitamin C may decrease the accuracy of glucose monitoring and falsely present high glucose readings. We'll review 2 studies to help you understand whether your CGM data might be affected.

Happy woman eating probiotic-rich yogurt in her kitchen

Glucose

Should You Take Probiotics to Manage Blood Sugar?

Julia Zakrzewski, RD

Health & Nutrition Writer

June 24, 2022

Living microorganisms called probiotics exist throughout your digestive tract and play a key role in supporting overall health— but can probiotics from food or supplements also help manage blood sugar levels?

Glucose

What Is Cortisol, and Why Does Managing It Matter for Health?

Danielle Kelvas, MD

Medical & Health Writer

June 17, 2022

Cortisol has many important functions that help the body respond to stress. But, chronic stress—leading to excess cortisol—makes it more difficult to control blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and maintain optimal health.

White ramekins filled with herbs and spices that help control blood sugar levels

Glucose

Spices that May Lower Blood Sugar

Julia Zakrzewski, RD

Health & Nutrition Writer

May 23, 2022

You’ve already zeroed in on carbs to help control blood sugar—but what about the rest of your pantry? Herbs and spices can help lower blood sugar, too. Julia Zakrzewski, RD, lists her top 6 spices and for blood sugar control.

woman walking down an urban sidewalk during the day

Glucose

How to Improve Insulin Sensitivity

Danielle Kelvas, MD

Medical & Health Writer

May 18, 2022

Increasing insulin sensitivity means your cells are able to use blood sugar more effectively, which helps your efforts to lose weight and burn fat.

Grand mother baking with her granddaughter

Glucose

Sugar Substitutes That Won’t Raise Blood Sugar

Julia Zakrzewski, RD

Health & Nutrition Writer

May 10, 2022

It's easy to get overwhelmed and confused by the many options of sugar substitutes you can buy. Refer this guide when you're looking for the best sugar substitutes for blood sugar.

four bowls filled with nuts: cashews, almonds, pecans, and peanuts

Glucose

Are Nuts Good for Managing Blood Sugar?

Laura M. Ali, MS, RDN, LDN

Health & Nutrition Writer

May 4, 2022

It's the middle of the afternoon, you are stressed and hungry but have a major project you have to finish up before you can call it quits. Thinking it will help, you grab an iced coffee or energy drink to help you power through.

Woman chopping cilantro and putting into a mason jar

Glucose

Slow-Digesting Carbs and Blood Sugar Control

Julia Zakrzewski, RD

Health & Nutrition Writer

May 3, 2022

If you’re unsure about the type of carbs to eat on a blood sugar friendly diet you are not alone. Julia Zakrzewski, RD, helps us understand slow carbs and if they are a good choice to promote stable blood sugar.

a heap of ground cinnamon on a square plate next to a bundle of rolled cinnamon sticks

Glucose

Can Cinnamon Lower Blood Sugar Levels?

Caitlin Beale, MS, RDN

Health & Nutrition Writer

April 28, 2022

Let's take a look at why cinnamon could help lower blood sugar, whether supplements are necessary, and how to safely include more of it in your diet.

Glucose

Does Coffee Raise Blood Sugar?

Caitlin Beale, MS, RDN

Health & Nutrition Writer

April 25, 2022

In this article, we'll look at what the research says about coffee and its connection to your blood sugar.

Close up shot of Signos CGM on woman's right tricep.

Glucose

Are CGMs Accurate?

Peter Palmieri, MD

Health Writer & Medical Reviewer

April 22, 2022

The use of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) is becoming more widespread in the management of diabetes, pre-diabetes, and in certain instances, as an aid to dietary and lifestyle modification. But how accurate are CGMs?

three women laughing while on a springtime walk

Glucose

Can Seasonal Allergies Spike Blood Sugar?

Danielle Kelvas, MD

Medical & Health Writer

April 21, 2022

Danielle Kelvas, MD, discusses how blood sugar levels are affected by seasonal allergies, how to manage blood sugar levels during allergy season, and how our diet can help.

Doctor in white coat writing on clipboard while talking to patient

Glucose

Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes: Symptoms, Risk Factors, and What You Can Do

Leann Poston, MD, MBA, M.Ed

Medical Writer

April 5, 2022

Imagine you recently scheduled a physical exam with your healthcare provider and learned that your fasting blood glucose was a little high. The good news is that you don’t have type 2 diabetes, at least not yet, but your doctor is concerned.

Picture of Thomas DeLauer posing, arms crossed and smiling

Glucose

Improve Weight Loss, Sleep, Stress, and Exercise With A CGM

Thomas DeLauer

Health & Fitness Lifestyle Writer

March 29, 2022

Tracking your glucose levels can help you make better decisions in regards to weight loss, stress, sleep, and exercise.

Woman smiling while looking at a recipe on her phone in the kitchen

Glucose

How to Control Blood Sugar Spikes After Meals

Caitlin Beale, MS, RDN

Health & Nutrition Writer

March 25, 2022

When you eat a meal with carbs, your blood sugar rises as food breaks down into glucose and is absorbed into your bloodstream. Some carbs will cause a rapid rise in blood sugar, while others are more gradual. Stabilize your glucose with these tips.

View in the Signos app showing a blood sugar response to an english muffin and butter spiking at 161 ml/dL at 9:44am

Glucose

Does Vinegar Lower Blood Glucose Levels?

Peter Palmieri, MD

Health Writer & Medical Reviewer

February 13, 2022

Some studies found that consuming vinegar with meals can help prevent blood sugar spikes. Peter Palmieri, MD discusses these along with a Signos experiment below.

Glucose

Why Would a Non-Diabetic Want to Track Their Glucose?

Amelia Sharp

Health Writer

January 13, 2022

Your glucose response can reveal a lot about your metabolic health. Even non-diabetics can track their glucose as a strategy to prevent chronic disease.

A woman sleeping in bed with an eye mask over her eyes

Glucose

What Should Blood Sugar Be at Bedtime?

Courtney Schmidt, PharmD

Health Writer

November 29, 2021

What your blood sugar should be at bedtime depends on a few factors. Find out what they are, what may cause your glucose levels to fluctuate at night, and more.