If you are diabetic, do you know exactly what you should be eating, how much exercise you need and how much sleep you should be getting? The tips below will help you get the upper hand against this debilitating disease.
Handfuls of almonds can satiate you enough to slay your hunger spikes without disturbing your glucose levels. Almonds are high in fiber, and also contain protein. They are a very healthy snack that is easy to enjoy anytime. Keep a bowl by the couch so you can grab some for a snack while you watch TV.
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. Diabetics should always look for foods with the lowest possible GI number.
Simplify your life with organization and routine. For instance, put your insulin and meter in the exact same place every evening so you know where it is in the morning. Consistent testing should be a routine part of your day in order to avoid forgetfulness in recording your insulin levels.
Learn to indulge healthily if you are living with diabetes. You do not have to forget sweets completely. You can eat dessert every so often if you’re blood sugar is controlled. Remove carbs from your meal to make room for dessert. Try to stick to equal amounts to make sure your entire meal stays balanced.
It is important to bring along high-sugar foods or chewing gum if you are hypoglycemic. A hypoglycemic attack can happen at any time, so it is important that you are always prepared. This is very true if you did not eat breakfast, since your body is demanding sugar.
Establish a routine to keep yourself on track. As an example, keep your blood sugar meter and your insulin near each other and use them at the same time each day if needed. Make testing a routine and do it at the same time and in the same way so you never miss a step.
Switching from a local pharmacy in your area to one that is online ends up saving you money on your medications. Sometimes they will even deliver for you each month.
If you think you might have gestational diabetes, let your doctor know. If you don’t control your diabetes, it harms both you and your baby. You might even have to take medication and change your diet significantly.
When you are experiencing diabetes, it’s a good idea to consume several small meals, as opposed to having three bigger meals. Eating smaller, healthy meals frequently during the day helps maintain the stability of your blood sugar levels. Plus, by eating regularly you are less likely to have an eating binge due to being hungry.
If you suffer from diabetes, proceed with caution when receiving a pedicure. 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.
This increases the odds that your child will have diabetes at birth or develop it as he gets older. Take good care of yourself so your child can stay healthy.
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. 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.
It’s important to remember why you choose to keep your diabetes under control. Figure out what it is in your life that’s important to you. Is there something that prevents you from participating in those activities? Fix those problems first. Maintain focus on the things you love so that you can be strong and continue to manage your disease.
Lower the risk of getting diabetes by eating a diet high in fiber. When you add more whole grains to your diet, you will reduce how much high glycemic foods you eat, such as white bread, and you should also reduce how much processed foods you eat because these will increase your risk. Research demonstrates that diets rich in whole grain are at lesser risk of suffering diabetes.
One urban myth regarding diabetes is that sufferers cannot eat sugar. You need to remain diligent about keeping sweets to a minimum, but not completely gone from your diet. On special occasions, treat yourself to a small portion of an excellent dessert. Sweets translate into additional carbs, so when you are planning on having a dessert, you will want to consume less carbohydrates during the rest of the meal.
Work out daily. Consistent exercise makes the body better able to process glucose and insulin so that your blood glucose levels stay stable. Every diabetic should include regular exercise in their weekly routine.
You need to pack your insulin in an insulated bag when you travel. You want to make sure that your insulin stays at the correct medium temperature. Using an insulated bad will protect you insulin from extreme hot or cold temperatures.
If you’re hypoglycemic, you should carry sugary food or gum with you constantly. Hypoglycemia can strike at any time, and you must be prepared for an attack. 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.
Sleep Apnea
It is common for those people with diabetes to have serious undiagnosed health conditions, such as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is when you do not breathe as you should while you are sleeping. Sleep apnea may be what is affecting you, if you find yourself unexplainably tired throughout the day.
If you skip meals, the glucose in your blood will go up because your liver starts creating glucose for your body because you aren’t nourishing yourself adequately. Eating regular meals, as well as having snacks with carbohydrates, will reduce the glucose being released.
Educate yourself so that you know which foods are most likely to cause your blood sugar to spike. For example, most juices, breads, desserts, cereals, and types of pasta are high glycemic index foods. Processed foods are not good for your sugar levels. Stick to fresh and natural foods instead when grocery shopping for your diabetic menu.
Breathing Exercises
Keep stress at bay. Stress and depression can cause a diabetic’s blood glucose levels to rise. If you are having a particularly stressful day, try doing breathing exercises or yoga to release some of the stress. Breathing exercises are a wonderful way to calm yourself down, and there a variety of techniques you can try. These can be done anywhere, making them convenient, as well as easy.
Understand what ketoacidosis is, and how it happens. Ketoacidosis is an increase in the acid in the blood, which happens when blood sugars are very high. This produces ketones, which raises your blood acid level. It is really dangerous and in a few cases, it results in a coma. Common symptoms include an overwhelming thirst, breath that reeks of a fruity aroma, and disorientation. Insulin injections and hydration are used to alleviate these symptoms. Ketoacidosis can be prevented by being aware of any symptoms, monitoring your blood sugar, taking insulin and knowing all of your treatment options.
If you are with child and suspect that you are afflicted with gestational diabetes, you need to talk to your physician. You may be putting yourself and your child in grave danger if you do not properly care for gestational diabetes. There are safe medicines you can take while pregnant for this condition, and your doctor can also provide you with an appropriate diet to follow.
As you can see, there is a lot to know about managing diabetes. This can be quite the burden on you until you decide to take action. The above advice should be of assistance to you as you make the first steps to managing your diabetes.