It’s definitely a challenge to manage diabetes. It requires a drastic change in diet and extensive care and maintenance. Diabetes will never stop being challenging to manage, but there are a number of things you can do to deal with it. The following advice will help you live a healthy life with diabetes.
Blood Sugar
The glycemic index of foods indicates how much the food item can affect glucose levels. Having a low GI number is important if you are trying to manage your diabetes.
Almonds are a great way to curb your appetite and they won’t bother your blood sugar levels. Unsalted almonds, especially raw ones, are packed with nutrients, protein and fiber to stabilize blood sugar and give you plenty of other health benefits. Always keep some almonds handy around the house so you always have them when you’re struck with the urge to snack.
If you are diabetic, be very careful when getting a pedicure. Since diabetics are at an increased risk for foot-related complications, it is especially important to safeguard against possible fungal infections or cuts.
Many grocery store items contain this ingredient, so become label conscious. If you find HFCS on the label, pick something else. Watch out for “glucose/fructose” too; this is the Canadian term for the same ingredient.
Almonds are the perfect snack to not hurt blood sugar. Natural, unsalted almonds are healthy for you, as they are full of protein, fiber and healthy nutrients. When you are craving a snack in the evening, keep a bowl in the living room so you can munch on them while you watch television.
If you get hypoglycemia, it’s absolutely crucial you have gum or some type of sugary food always available to you. As these attacks can occur at any time, it is very important to be ready for it. It is particularly important to have some form of sugar with you if you tend to skip breakfast, because your body will have increased cravings.
There are a variety of cost efficient ways diabetics can lose weight, such a taking a jog or exercising at a playground. The jungle gym provides a place for you to try chin ups, and you can use canned goods or sacks filled with heavy items to practice lifting.
If you’re a diabetic and you’re experiencing problems related to your vision, see to it that you consult your doctor. Glaucoma, cataracts, and other eye conditions, such as retinopathy, can be caused by diabetes. Fix these problems as soon as possible because they have the potential to cause blindness.
There are many other protein-packed foods you can eat, from dairy to eggs, beans to tofu. Try to mix it up to keep your mouth interested!
It is important that you pay attention to the foods that you eat when you are diabetic. You have to remember that different foods are going to have different effects on the level of glucose in your blood, which could make you sick. Adapt your insulin injections to what you eat. Keeping a close eye on your meals will help you to keep your glucose levels in check, and stay healthy.
Smoking is extremely harmful if you have diabetes. Chemicals present in cigarettes can raise the level of sugar in your blood significantly if you are diabetic. The highly addictive nature of nicotine can make quitting a very difficult process. Seek advice from your doctor.
Unless otherwise directed by your physician, you should always take fast-acting insulin between one to fifteen minutes before you sit down to eat your meal. Fast-acting insulins may effectively maintain blood sugar, but only if the dosage is correct, and timed correctly for the person.
Today, diabetes is a very prevalent condition which most people are generally very aware of. You need to stop feeling ashamed about this condition to reduce the stress associated with it.
Hypoglycemic individuals ought to speak with a physician about whether they should take glucose pills. These tablets are very convenient to carry with you, and work better and faster than sugary foods to get your blood sugar back to a normal level, because they take much less time to digest.
Favorite Foods
Instead of totally eliminating foods you love, alter them so that they are healthier. A lot of people struggle with their diabetes-related diet restrictions. It’s a common myth that to control your diabetes, you must give up your favorite foods. Others may continue to eat foods that negatively impact their health. The best option is to take a good look at your favorite foods and figure out how to make adjustments. Many favorite foods are able to be diabetes-friendly simply by substituting healthier alternatives where appropriate.
If your salad is lacking nutrients, give it a boost with some walnuts! They have mono-saturated fats. These fats cause your cells to be receptive to insulin, and this helps keep your blood sugar levels on track. Walnuts contain antioxidants, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins; no wonder they’re great for you to eat.
Smoking is dangerous for anyone, but diabetic people should be extremely careful. When you do this you open doors to more unhealthy habits and effects on your body. Smoking causes your body to become more insulin resistant than normal, and could cause type II diabetes if you don’t already have it.
A common misconception regarding diabetes is that the diabetic is not allowed any sugar. There is no need to cut sugar out entirely, but you do need to be vigilant about what sweets you eat. An occasional sweet dessert eaten in a small amount is allowable. If you’ll be enjoying some sweets, eliminate other carb containing foods to fit the sweets in.
Do not rely solely upon urine ketone testing to measure your blood glucose levels. Your urine’s ketone level doesn’t give you specific information about your blood sugar level; it only tells you that your sugar level is significantly higher than normal. Organizations like the ADA recommend that those with diabetes use more reliable testing methods, like strips or finger pokes.
If you suffer from diabetes, as soon as you can, get tested for sleep apnea. If you have this condition, treatment will keep you more alert, healthier and happier.
Diabetics must take very good care of themselves and monitor both their health and diet closely. This article is here to guide you through managing your diabetes. Stop letting your diabetes control you; you can start controlling it, for a change.