Diabetes causes fear, not because of the tests or treatments, but because of the possible outcomes. What brings out fear is the danger of complications, such as diabetic retinopathy, a disease caused by diabetes that can result in blindness. Weight loss, exercise and a healthy diet are treatments that you can practice to prevent serious complications caused by diabetes. Managing diabetes is not easy, but it’s possible and can effectively eliminate the need for medication.
Every food has a glycemic index, which is a number that shows how great of an effect that food will have on blood sugar levels, based on its ingredients. Keep in mind that foods with a lower glycemic index are better for a person with diabetes.
The glycemic index of foods indicates how much the food item can affect glucose levels. The lower the glycemic index, the better it is for you to eat!
Experiment with alternative sources of protein such as eggs and tofu instead of just eating meat. Try making some meals from the recipes in diabetic cookbooks.
Diabetes is very common nowadays. When you don’t force yourself to hide, you will take steps to fight the shame and stigma sometimes associated with diabetes.
If you change to a diet rich in fiber, you can decrease your risk of developing diabetes. Eating more whole grain foods will reduce your intake of high glycemic foods like white bread and processed foods which will increase your your risk. Research has shown that those who eat more whole grains are at lower risk of getting diabetes.
If you suffer from diabetes, consider getting checked for sleep apnea. If you do have sleep apnea, start treatment right away to protect yourself from future health issues.
Find out what foods contain high amounts of glucose and raise blood sugar. Some of these high glycemic foods include cereal, pastas, breads, and juice. Processed foods are bad for your blood glucose levels. Instead, try to focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, and meat.
Make sure you speak with your doctor if you are having vision problems and are diabetic. Glaucoma, cataracts, and other eye conditions, such as retinopathy, can be caused by diabetes. If you do not address these problems with your physician, they might result in more serious conditions, including blindness.
A snacking diabetic will have a hard time resisting the temptation that surrounds them daily. You need to exercise willpower and ditch that processed snack, and choose a complex carbohydrate such as vegetables or fruit instead.
If you’re diabetic, be careful when you get a pedicure. Even a small cut can result in an infection for a diabetic.
As the introduction of this article mentioned, it’s the potential to go blind and other debilitating side effects associated with diabetes that really scare people. You can work past the fear and use the information you’ve learned here to ensure that you’re never a victim of these nasty complications.