If you have diabetes, or if you know someone who has it, education is your best weapon for fighting the disease. This article contains some very useful information to empower you to better cope with and manage this precarious and often life changing disease. You will run into more serious issues later if changes aren’t made from the beginning.
Many people suffer from diabetes. By doing what makes you most comfortable you can reduce any stress or shame you feel about your disease.
A large number of foods have an assigned “glycemic index,” which is a number that tells you how much the food affects your blood sugar after eating it. The lower the glycemic index, the better it is for you to eat!
If you are a diabetic, you should get tested for sleep apnea right away. If you do have sleep apnea, seeking treatment in a timely manner is important if you want to remain healthy.
There are tons of protein options, include dairy, eggs and legumes. Change it up often to give your mouth a treat.
A pedicure can be dangerous if you have diabetes. Because people with diabetes are likely to develop foot infections, even a small cut can have serious results.
Today, diabetes is a very prevalent condition which most people are generally very aware of. Acknowledging this can eliminate any shame or stress that came with your diagnosis, and make living with the condition much easier.
Sodas, ketchup and many other processed sweet foods contain high fructose corn syrup, so read the labels on everything you are considering buying at the market, and pass on it if it contains this ingredient. This is labeled “glucose/fructose” in Canada.
Sleep Apnea
Make sure you speak with your doctor if you are having vision problems and are diabetic. Diabetes can cause an array of different eye problems, including glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy. If you do not address these problems with your physician, they might result in more serious conditions, including blindness.
If you have diabetes, you should get a sleep apnea test as soon as possible. If you have sleep apnea, you should get it treated immediately to stay healthy.
Watching what you eat is of critical importance when you have diabetes. Different types of foods will affect blood sugar levels differently, so you will need to closely monitor your food intake. Large meals require large insulin injections while small meals require less. If you watch your meals, you can actively manage your glucose levels.
Use caution when having a pedicure if you have diabetes. People with diabetics are highly prone to foot infections. Therefore it is important that you are careful with any cut that you might get on your foot.
Don’t panic if you go through high glucose levels right after you apply treatment towards a low sugar reaction. Your body can react to a low glucose level by raising hormone levels, or you may have eaten more than necessary while experiencing the low blood sugar. Try eating half as much next the time when your levels are low. Then check the level again in a half an hour.
Always keep sugary gum or another form of sugar that is quick to grab and consume on hand when you are hypoglycemic. Hypoglycemia attacks can happen at any time, so you need to be prepared for that. This is particularly the case when breakfast has been skipped, because the body is now seeking sugar.
Diabetics who smoke should stop immediately. Smoking is harmful to your blood sugar levels, as well as its other harmful effects to you and others. If you need help to quit, ask your doctor for suggestions.
Online pharmacies can offer huge discounts on diabetes medications. Online pharmacies will also allow you to get monthly deliveries. This way you’ll always have the diabetes medications you need.
When you are going to eat a meal, unless your doctor has told you otherwise, remember to take your fast-acting insulin about 1-15 minutes beforehand. This insulin helps your blood sugar stay at a proper level when it is used properly. But it needs to be dosed and timed out properly.
Gestational Diabetes
If you suspect hypoglycemia in your life, consider asking for a prescription of glucose in tablet form. These tablets generally come in small containers that fit in a purse or pocket, and can quickly boost your blood glucose levels.
You are not at fault if you acquire gestational diabetes. Pregnancy often causes gestational diabetes, and there is really not much you can do to prevent it if you are susceptible to it. If you want to keep stress out of your life, you need to keep your stress down and stay thinking positive and happy.
It is important to know that although gestational diabetes usually goes away after you have given birth, it is essential to keep having your blood sugar checked. Many people believe that your blood sugar will automatically go back to normal after you give birth, but this is often untrue.
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, use your fast-acting insulin up to as much as 15 minutes before eating a meal. Insulin is helpful in maintaining the level of sugar in your blood, if you take it in the right quantities and at the right time.
You need to work out regularly. Exercise helps your body handle glucose and insulin more efficiently. Every diabetic should find time for exercise in their day.
Even if you’re feeling sick and not hungry, a diabetic needs to be more careful about how and when they eat. If you have low blood sugar for a long time, you may feel dehydrated. Drink plenty of water.
Don’t solely rely on urine ketone testing for measuring blood sugar. If you have a high ketone level it will only show that blood glucose is higher than 200 mg per deciliter. Instead of this method, it is recommended by the ADA to use testing strips and finger pricks, which are more accurate.
You do not need to avoid all sugar when you have diabetes. This is simply untrue. Although you don’t need to avoid all sugar, you can’t eat candy and cookies all the time if you’re diabetic. Don’t be afraid to indulge in your favorite desserts every now and then. Since eating sweets adds extra carbohydrates, it is best to cut back on other foods that contain carbohydrates when you have that special treat.
If you want to be sure to eat the best breakfast you can for your diabetes, eat egg whites! Egg whites contain lots of protein, and are very low in both fat and calories. Try making an egg white omelet, or enjoying some scrambled egg whites alongside a slice of ham.
It is important to know that although gestational diabetes usually goes away after you have given birth, it is essential to keep having your blood sugar checked. You can still have problems with blood glucose levels when you have your baby!
Not eating meals could increase blood glucose level because the liver will respond by increasing glucose when malnourished. Regular meals and snacks that contain carbohydrates will keep extra glucose from being released.
If you have diabetes and you plan on traveling, you should remember to take along your insulin in an insulated bag. The temperature of your insulin supply will be more regulated if you store it in this insulated bag.
If you have diabetes and you want to prevent diabetes in your life, try to get some exercise. This helps you shed extra pounds and lowers your blood sugar by upping your insulin. These effects are quite significant, so anyone with insulin resistance issues should get up and start moving.
Sleep apnea can often be overlooked in those with diabetes. In fact, those with diabetes often have many issues go unnoticed. Sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing while you are asleep. If you feel more tired than you should be or have trouble staying asleep, you might have sleep apnea.
Keep all of your supplies ready and in one bag, but keep a few bags around so that you are sure to always have the supplies that you need to treat your highs and lows. You’ll be ready for whatever happens if you have a bag handy with your insulin, meter hooks, and syringes in it.
Having diabetes makes you prone to foot problems. You must take great care of both of your feet; if you do not pay attention to them, you can lose them through amputation. These ideas may save your ability to walk, so treat your toes with care.
Be consistent with your meal schedules. When you delay or skip meals, and you’re diabetic, your blood sugar numbers can get out of control. This type of glucose plus already high blood sugar can lead to disaster.
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.
If you are suffering from diabetic retinopathy, it is doubly important to keep your sugars under control. Taking control of your sugar levels may make you eyes seem worse at first, but eventually you will benefit. Eye diseases caused by diabetes may be slowed in their progression by keeping your blood sugar under control.