There are many factors that influence your blood glucose levels — we are very complex beings! We'll cover:
Food
Food is a big key player.
Carbohydrates are a big influence in blood sugar control. This is because when you eat carbohydrates, they get broken down into glucose (simple sugars). This then results in your glucose rising, stimulating the pancreas to produce insulin to help the cells absorb the glucose for energy.
The way your body responds to foods differs with the combination of foods you consume. For example, you'll see a different result if you eat something that is mostly carbohydrates, like an apple, compared to if you ate an apple and some nuts together. This is because fibre, fats and protein help to slow the absorption of glucose into the cells which prevents large glucose spikes.
Exercise
Exercise has an impact for a few reasons:
Exercise requires energy, which means your muscle cells are using up glucose
Exercises boosts your insulin sensitivity
You'll notice even a short walk can have an impact, and you'll likely see a drop in your glucose levels.
Sleep
Sleep deprivation can raise your blood glucose levels for reasons like:
Sleep deprivation increases the production of ghrelin (your hunger hormone)
Lack of sleep increases your cortisol (your stress hormone), which influences your glucose levels
Your body is less sensitive to insulin when you are lacking sleep
Stress
As mentioned above, cortisol production has an impact on your body's sensitivity to insulin and your glucose levels. You'll likely notice a rise in blood glucose if you're feeling stressed.
Other factors
These include:
Pain
Medication
Certain medical conditions
Menstruation
Dehydration
Illness
Alcohol
+ many others
Of course, the details of the above factors are out of the scope of this article. For more information, please speak to your healthcare provider.
References