If you, or a loved one, has diabetes, remember that knowledge is power. Read the information that follows and you will be on your way to increasing your education about diabetes and its treatment. Without proper treatment, diabetes can lead to very severe complications.
Find healthier ways to indulge if you suffer from diabetes. It’s probably not necessary to remove sweets altogether from your diet. If your blood sugar levels are under control, eating desserts occasionally is not a problem. Make room for desserts by eliminating an equal amount of carbohydrates from your main meal.
A child diagnosed with diabetes might be overwhelming to cope with, but you will both get through it! The treatment of diabetes has advanced tremendously in the last few years, and your child can have a normal life if they take care of themselves properly. The current oldest living diabetic is 90 years of age! This means that he was living in a time when all the current medical knowledge we now have wasn’t available!
Think twice about getting a pedicure if you’re diabetic. Even a small cut can result in an infection for a diabetic.
Try to keep a tight schedule in order to simplify your life and allow your body to get used to normal cycles. For example, keep your insulin and meter in one place each night so it is easier found in the morning. Let your testing become a routine and you won’t forget to do it regularly and to write in your log.
Anything like sugary soft drinks and ketchup, along with many other sweets, contain this syrup, so make sure you are reading all the nutrition data labels and ingredients before purchasing these items that include high fructose corn syrup. In Canada this item is labeled as “glucose/fructose”.
These days, diabetics are everywhere. Don’t allow managing your diabetes to cause stress or shame in your life.
Battling diabetes does not always have to involve expensive methods; try brisk walks in the park, jogging or reasonable fitness regimes. You could even use a jungle gym to do chin-ups, or use canned goods for weight lifting.
Sleep Apnea
Watching your diet carefully is important when you are diagnosed with diabetes. Different foods will all have different effects on your blood sugar, so take care when choosing your meals and snacks. If you eat a large meal, it will require more insulin, while smaller meals will require less. If you are careful about what foods you do and do not eat, you will be able to better manage your glucose.
If you suffer from diabetes, consider getting checked for sleep apnea. If you have sleep apnea, get it treated as soon as possible to keep yourself healthy.
Gestational diabetes is by no means something that you have caused! It occurs often, and is not something you can control. Keep your stress to a bare minimum, and think positive and happy thoughts about your child and yourself.
The risk of getting diabetes can be reduced by having a diet that is high in fiber. High glycemic index foods, including processed foods and white bread, can raise your risk for developing diabetes, so you should eliminate these foods from your diet and replace them with whole grain foods. There have been quite a few studies that prove the point that those who choose whole grain will have a lesser risk of getting diabetes as opposed to those who do not.
If your blood sugar rises right after you take care of your low glucose reaction, don’t worry. It may be caused by overcompensating with the food or drink you take or it can be a hormonal response of your body to combat the low glucose level. Try reducing your meal by about half the next time and then check on your blood sugar level about 30 minutes later.
Make a list of high glycemic index foods and learn to identify potential problem foods and ingredients. Foods with a high carbohydrate or sugar content include breads, cereal and most fruit juices. Processed foods are bad for your blood glucose levels. Concentrate on raw vegetables, fresh fruit, meat, and fish instead.
Frequently remind yourself why it is so important that you keep your diabetes under control. Keep your mind on the better parts of your life, what prevents you from enjoying them and what you are able to do about it. Stay focused on what you find important and let that motivate the management of your diabetes.
If you are afflicted with diabetes, six smaller meals can be better than three traditional ones each day. Eating small healthy meals, several times a day, will keep your blood sugar stable. It will also help to keep you full, thus preventing any binges.
One flavorful spice that diabetics can use, that doesn’t contain sugar, sodium or calories, is cinnamon. Cinnamon also helps draw out the sweetness in different foods without elevating blood glucose levels. It has not been proven one way or the other if cinnamon can reduce glucose levels, but either way, it is a great spice to include in your diet.
Blood Sugar
For people who suffer from hypoglycemia, you may want to talk with your doctor about taking glucose tablets. These tablets can be easily carried around and can increase your glucose level effectively and more quickly than other sugary foods, because these foods take time to digest.
Don’t worry if your blood glucose levels spike right after treating a hypoglycemic episode. In some cases, you might overcompensate for low blood sugar by eating too much, while in other cases your body might release hormones into your bloodstream when your sugar gets too low. These hormones can raise glucose naturally at the same time as you are raising it via eating. When this happens, you may want to reduce the food and liquids by about 50 percent and see how if affects your blood sugar levels within half an hour.
When someone suffers from diabetes, smoking is a very dangerous habit to have. When you smoke, you cause many complications to your health. Smoking makes you more resistant to insulin. If you don’t already have diabetes you may have an increased risk of getting type 2 diabetes.
If you are a diabetic and you smoke, it would be wise to try to kick the habit. Smoking is an unhealthy habit for everyone, but it can be especially dangerous for diabetics as it can cause elevated blood glucose levels. Your physician can give you help with quitting.
To keep watch on gestational diabetes after the baby is born, you should continue to track your blood sugar levels, even if you think the condition has been resolved. Many people believe that your blood sugar will automatically go back to normal after you give birth, but this is often untrue.
One myth regarding diabetes is that it’s necessary to always avoid sugar. This is incorrect as sugar does not need to be completely eliminated, however, you must be mindful about eating sweets. You can still have a small sweet treat every now and then, though make sure to keep it to a minimum. When you do eat sweets, remember that you are eating more carbs, so on a day when you are going to have dessert, it is a good idea to lessen your carbohydrates.
There are more effective ways to measure where your blood sugar levels are at, than urine ketone testing. This method is not very accurate, and high levels of ketones only indicate that blood glucose levels are something higher than 200mg a deciliter. Instead, the ADA advises diabetics to rely on more accurate testing methods, such as finger sticks and testing strips.
Egg Whites
For employers, turning down a job application because the prospective employee has diabetes is illegal. Also, you do not have to disclose any medical conditions during the hiring process.
For the diabetes afflicted, egg whites are a superb breakfast choice. Egg whites have a very low amount of fat and calories, and they’re packed with protein that you need to begin the day in the right way. Try an omelet made of egg whites, or have scrambled eggs and ham.
Egg whites are one of the best foods you can eat for breakfast. Egg whites contain lots of protein, and are very low in both fat and calories. You can make an omelet with the egg whites, or scramble them up with some ham.
When people are diagnosed with diabetes, they should know that it is very important to learn all they can about this condition. The more informed people are about their disease, the more prepared they will be to make the proper choices when it comes to their treatment and care. Knowledge is the power that is necessary to battle the diabetes disease.
Research has shown that blood sugar is positively affected by exercise, and physical activity can also increase your sensitivity to insulin, which is a natural way to keep your blood glucose levels in check. Aerobic training and resistance exercises produce the best results.
One way to keep diabetes from interfering in your day-to-day life is to get plenty of exercise. This will both serve to lose weight and lower your blood glucose because your insulin sensitivity has been increased. With the effects that activity has on blood sugar, those who are diabetic can’t afford to sit still.
When someone is diagnosed with diabetes, he or she should aim to learn as much knowledge as possible about this disease. With that knowledge, they will be more capable of managing their care and monitoring their wellness. Where diabetes is concerned, a little bit of knowledge can go a long way.
Keep any needed supplies readily available in one bag so that you always are within reach of what you might need to respond to extreme glucose levels in both directions. The bags should contain insulin, syringes, and meter hooks, so you are always equipped to handle any sudden fluctuations.
Make up a few bags containing all of your necessary supplies so that there is always one on hand in case your blood sugar levels become too high or low. Make sure you keep your meter hooks, insulin, and syringes in one place!
Information will always give you the best chance of winning any battle, and that’s especially true when dealing with something as dangerous and as unpredictable as diabetes. What you’ve just read here, are a collection of tips that you can use to empower you, when working hard to conquer the disease. Don’t waste time; get started today.
Include vinegar with your meals. Studies have proven that consuming a couple spoonfuls of vinegar in advance of eating a meal, can cause blood sugar to go up slower than normal. Also, vinegar keeps starch from being processed as quickly, keeping food in the stomach for longer.