How to Increase Glucose Levels With Food
Carbohydrates, proteins and fats are the three ingredients in food that cause blood glucose levels to rise. How fast levels rise depends on what and how much you are eating; portion size and the timing of the meal are also factors.
- Drink carbohydrates. Carbohydrates work the fastest when it comes to making blood glucose levels rise, and liquid carbohydrates, such as milk and juice, work faster than solid carbohydrates like bread.
- Eat larger portions. Eating a larger meal with lots of carbohydrates will cause blood glucose levels to rise sharply. Foods with lots of carbohydrates include breads, baked potatoes, pasta and most breakfast cereals. Other foods with a high glycemic index are watermelon, popcorn, white rice and couscous. Talk to your doctor about the amount of carbohydrates you should be consuming on a daily basis. People with diabetic conditions have to carefully monitor their carbohydrate intake and should follow the recommendations of their doctor.
- Learn which foods have the most impact. Three food groups contain carbohydrates; the starch group, the milk and yogurt group and the fruit and vegetables group. Consuming one serving from any of them will impact your blood glucose levels in much the same way, as they each contain about 15 grams of carbohydrates. Serving size will vary depending on the food eaten.
- Look at the nutrition label on the food you buy. The total carbohydrates will be listed so you can determine how a food will impact your blood glucose levels.