A diagnosis of diabetes can be overwhelming, confusing and frightening. However, a good education of the disease and how to manage it, can really offset the fears and enable you to lead a healthy, normal life. Read on to find out how a few simple life choices can dramatically improve your health and reduce the effects of diabetes.
Grab a handful of almonds to curb your hunger cravings while not upsetting your diabetic blood sugar levels. Unsalted almonds are not only very healthy, but they contain protein, fiber and other essential nutrients. Place a bowl of almonds next to your easy chair and munch on them while you are watching television.
There are many high protein alternatives to meat, such as eggs, tofu, beans and other dairy products. Don’t let it get boring! Mix up the routine and keep your mouth at attention the entire time.
There are tons of protein options, include dairy, eggs and legumes. Try making some meals from the recipes in diabetic cookbooks.
If your child has diabetes, do not make things more stressful than they need to be. You can cope! So many people have diabetes nowadays that modern treatment has the capacity to let your kid live as many years as the rest of us. The oldest current diabetic is 90, and he was around prior to the medical wisdom that’s out there now.
If you want to add a nutritious touch to your salad, throw in some walnuts! Walnuts are full of monosaturated fats. This makes your cells become more receptive to the insulin. They taste great and boost your energy, and if that’s not enough, they contain omega-3, minerals, vitamins and antioxidants.
Changing your diet can be a great way to help lower your risk factor of contracting diabetes, and switching out fats and sugars with fiber is a great place to start. Your risk will be increased by the intake of highly glycemic products, such as food that has been overly processed, rather than those made with whole grains. There are many studies that show that people who eat whole grains, and low-GI foods in general, get diabetes less often than those who don’t.
Sleep Apnea
If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, it’s important that you get tested for sleep apnea. Treating sleep apnea can improve your overall health and help you manage your diabetes more effectively.
Pedicures can be problematic when you have problems with diabetes. Since diabetics are at an increased risk for foot-related complications, it is especially important to safeguard against possible fungal infections or cuts.
If you are dealing with hypoglycemia, it is critical you have gum or some other sugar food on hand wherever you go. Stay prepared for the advent of a hypoglycemic attack, as they can take place out of nowhere. This is a potentially severe problem if you skip breakfast, so always eat a healthy breakfast and regular meals to reduce the risks.
Many foods contain corn syrup, so make sure to read food labels. In Canada this item is labeled as “glucose/fructose”.
If you are hypoglycemic, you should always have gum or some other type of sugary food handy. You never know when you will feel the onset of an attack so it is important to always be prepared. If you didn’t eat breakfast then this is especially true, as skipping meals will make your body crave sugar.
Learn the foods that have high glycemic indexes, as these can cause a sudden spike in your blood sugar levels. For instance, bread, cereal, pasta or juices have a very high glycemic index. Processed foods and carbohydrates can been dangerous for diabetics. Instead, include meat, fish, veggies and low-glycemic fruits in your diet.
Lots of methods of dropping weight and battling diabetes exist, ranging from workouts at a park to jogging. Do some chin ups at the playground or when you are at home lift some canned goods.
If you are a diabetic, you should consider eating five to six little meals rather than three large meals everyday. When you eat often during the day, you will be able to better control your blood sugar. Frequent meals also help to eliminate the risk of binge eating, since you will never feel ravenous.
Gestational diabetes isn’t something that you cause yourself. In most cases, this condition does not appear for any specific reasons. It’s important to keep stress to a minimum and keep your thoughts positive.
Always keep in mind the reasons why you have to take care of yourself and your diabetes. Analyze what is keeping you from doing what you love and find a new solution. By staying focused on what’s most important, you’ll remain motivated in your diabetes management.
Talk to your doctor when you become pregnant and think you might have gestational diabetes. You may be putting yourself and your child in grave danger if you do not properly care for gestational diabetes. Your doctor may prescribe certain medications that are safe to take during pregnancy, and he can also advise you of what to eat.
Blood Glucose Levels
If you are dealing with diabetes, cinnamon is a great spice that can be included in your foods because it does not add sugar, sodium or calories to your diet. Cinnamon brings out the natural sweetness in certain foods without the added sugar that can raise blood glucose levels. Some even believe that cinnamon will lower blood glucose levels, but the jury is still out on that one.
No employers are not allowed to dismiss applicants because they have diabetes. By law, you do not have to let your employer know of your condition before you are hired.
Talk to a physician immediately if you have any vision problems. Diabetes can cause a lot of different kinds of eye issues; cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma are some of them. You must attend to these problems right away to avoid possible vision loss and/or blindness.
If you have diabetes, eating egg whites for breakfast is a great option. Egg whites are known to be a low calorie food, and they are also low in fat. Another benefit is that egg whites are filled with protein which will give you a wonderful energy boost. Make an omelet with egg whites, or scramble the egg whites with ham for instance.
Having a diet with healthy carbohydrates is good for a diabetic. Removing all carbs from a diabetic’s diet is not healthy, as it cuts out many sources of essential vitamins, fibers, and minerals from their diet. To make sure your energy levels stay high, you should be sure you’re consuming all the carbohydrates you need.
You should only feel threatened about diabetes if you don’t know how to properly manage it. By following the advice of this article, you should be armed with sufficient knowledge to face your fear, and effectively manage your diabetes.
If you find a high glucose reading immediately after treating a low reading, do not be unduly alarmed. 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. 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.