Post Time: 2025-09-01
Understanding a Blood Sugar Level of 203: Causes, Risks, and Ways to Improve
Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels is crucial for overall well-being. A reading of 203 may seem alarming, but what does it actually mean? What are the possible causes behind such high levels?
A blood glucose level above 200mg/dL after a meal or an overnight fast indicates hyperglycemia, which can have serious health consequences if left unmanaged.
What Causes Blood Sugar Levels to Soar?
One of the primary reasons for fluctuating blood sugar levels is diet. Consuming foods high on the glycemic index (GI) causes rapid spikes in blood glucose. For instance, refined carbohydrates like white bread and sugary drinks can lead to significant increases in blood sugar.
Another crucial factor affecting blood sugar regulation is exercise or lack thereof. Regular physical activity not only improves insulin sensitivity but also enhances the body's ability to utilize insulin efficiently, thus maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.
The Role of Lifestyle Factors
In addition to diet and exercise, other lifestyle factors significantly impact blood glucose levels. Stress, for instance, can cause a significant increase in cortisol production, leading to elevated blood sugar readings.
Sleep deprivation is another crucial factor influencing blood glucose regulation. Research shows that sleep disruptions lead to increased insulin resistance and decreased glycemic control.
Achieving Healthy Blood Sugar Levels
Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits is vital for managing high blood sugar levels. Incorporating foods with a low GI into one's diet can significantly improve overall health outcomes, such as reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 30%.
Regular physical activity and exercise are also effective methods for achieving healthier glucose levels. Studies demonstrate that incorporating moderate-intensity aerobic activities like brisk walking or cycling reduces fasting blood sugar levels.
Supplements That Can Help
Incorporating supplements rich in chromium, vitamin D, and berberine can help regulate healthy insulin function while maintaining optimal glycemic control. For example, a study found that supplementing with 200-400mg of berberine daily resulted in improved glucose metabolism and significant reductions in fasting blood sugar.
By making informed lifestyle choices based on scientific evidence, it's possible to successfully lower high blood sugar levels like the one measured at 203 and maintain overall health.
In this episode, my guest is Jeffrey Goldberg, MD, PhD, professor and chair of the department of ophthalmology at the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University. His clinical and research efforts focus on retinal and optic nerve diseases such as glaucoma and discovering stem cell and nanotechnology treatments to cure blindness. We discuss how to maintain and improve eye health throughout life, the advantages and disadvantages of corrective lenses, including if you should wear “readers,” the use and risks of contact lenses, considerations for LASIK eye surgery, floaters, dry eye, the importance of sunlight and UV protection and specific exercises to improve eye and vision health. Dr. Goldberg also explains age-related conditions: cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy; and the behavioral and supplementation-based, prescription and surgical tools used to promote eye health. This episode provides essential tools for listeners of any age and background to maintain does blood sugar drop while sleeping eye health and offset vision loss. #HubermanLab #Science #EyeHealth Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): Maui Nui Venison: LMNT: Eight Sleep: InsideTracker: Momentous: Huberman Lab Social & Website Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: LinkedIn: Website: Newsletter: does sugar elevate blood pressure Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg Academic Profile: Lab Website: Publications: Open Clinical Trials: Medical Profile: Stanford Ophthalmology website: Support Stanford Ophthalmology research: Articles Weeklong improved colour contrasts sensitivity after single 670 nm exposures associated with enhanced mitochondrial function: Improvement in inner retinal function in glaucoma with nicotinamide (vitamin B3): supplementation: A crossover randomized clinical trial: Novel Foveal Features Associated With Vision Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis: Other Resources “Pencil Pushups” Near-Far Exercise: Smooth Pursuit Eye Exercises: Stanford Vision Performance Center: AREDS2 Supplements for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Clinical Trials Glaucoma & Vitamin B6 Supplementation: Dr. Dubra Lab: Timestamps 00:00:00 Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg 00:03:08 Sponsors: Maui Nui, LMNT, Eight Sleep 00:06:29 Childhood & Eye Exams 00:11:36 Eye Misalignment & Recovery 00:20:38 Myopia (Near-Sightedness), Children & Sunlight 00:30:04 Sponsor: AG1 (Athletic Greens) 00:31:18 Eye Safety & Protection; Eye Hygiene 00:40:07 Adults & Eye Exams; Optometrist vs Ophthalmologist 00:46:35 Presbyopia (Age-Related Vision Decline), Reading Glasses 00:54:54 Reading Glasses: Use & Recommendations 00:58:34 Night Vision & Glasses 01:02:55 Sponsor: InsideTracker 01:03:54 Corrective Eye Glasses, Exercises 01:09:52 Near-Far Exercise & Presbyopia; Smooth Pursuit Exercise & Concussion 01:13:25 Supranormal Vision & Performance Training 01:19:11 20/20 Vision; Visual Acuity 01:24:51 Contact Lenses: Use, Risks & Aging 01:31:34 UV Protection & Cataracts, “Blue Blockers” 01:38:20 Light Sensitivity & Eye Color 01:40:29 LASIK Eye Surgery 01:46:26 Dry Eye, Tears & Age 01:53:24 Dry Eye, Serum Tears & Preservative-Free Artificial Tears; PRP 02:00:46 Vision Loss: Cataracts, Glaucoma 02:09:23 Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Dry & Wet Forms 02:14:02 Diabetic Retinopathy, Type I vs Type II Diabetes 02:18:54 Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment, Blood Pressure 02:22:17 Glaucoma Screening & Treatment 02:28:07 Smoking, Vaping & Vision Diseases; Cannabis & Eye Pressure 02:35:13 Eye Pressure & Sleep Position 02:37:48 Macular Degeneration, Optic Neuropathies & Red-Light Therapy 02:42:23 “Floaters” 02:45:29 what's it called when you have low blood sugar Eye Twitching 02:48:10 AREDS2 Supplementation & Age-Related Macular Degeneration 02:53:39 Glaucoma & Vitamin B3 Supplementation 02:58:42 Retinal Imaging & Neurodegeneration Screening, Multiple Sclerosis 03:06:30 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac - Disclaimer: