Many have found that controlling diabetes is not as daunting as it was in previous times. With the proper knowledge, you can make living with diabetes much easier. The below article contains lots of tips for dealing with diabetes so that you can live a higher quality of life.
Check all the foods you eat for the “glycemic index“, which is a number that shows you exactly how your blood sugar levels will be affected. Keep in mind that foods with a lower glycemic index are better for a person with diabetes.
If you suffer from diabetes, consider getting checked for sleep apnea. If sleep apnea is a problem for you, then get treatment now, before it has a chance to impact your health.
You can eat some almonds if you are hungry. This will not affect your 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. Almonds are a high protein snack that can improve diabetes and prevent heart disease.
To help make your diabetes control efforts less of a hassle, get organized and keep a constant testing routine. For example, put your meter and insulin in the same place every night to make it easy to find in the morning. Keep to the same routine every time you test so you never miss a step, and you don’t have to think twice about recording your levels.
Research high glycemic index so that you can recognize them instantly. Some of these high glycemic foods include cereal, pastas, breads, and juice. Processed foods send your blood sugar on a roller coaster. Add more fresh vegetables and fruits, meats and fish to your diet.
Many grocery store items contain this ingredient, so become label conscious. If you find HFCS on the label, pick something else. “Glucose/fructose” is how this product is labeled in Canada.
Blood Sugar
Diabetics should monitor their eating habits carefully. Different foods will have different effects on your blood sugar levels, so make sure to carefully choose your food choices. Large meals will need larger doses of insulin to process, and small meals require less. Watch what you eat to manage your blood sugar levels.
Smoking cigarettes is especially dangerous for diabetics. Smoking is a poor health decision for those around you and for yourself as it can make your blood sugar dangerous. If you need help quitting, ask your doctor.
Choose a diet containing lots of fiber. It is certain to lower your chances of developing diabetes. Consumption of whole grains will cut your intake of white bread and other high glycemic foods, which are not beneficial for you. 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.
Fast-acting insulin shots are usually best taken a few minutes before a meal. Fast-acting insulin is only effective in managing blood sugar levels with careful timing and consistent dosing.
Managing your diabetes can become tiresome, so it’s important to keep reminding yourself of all the reasons why it’s critical. What are your hobbies? What would you undertake if you could? What’s holding you back? How can you get around those barriers? It’s important to pay attention to your priorities and let them drive your planning.
If you are diabetic, cinnamon can add more flavor to your food without additional calories or sugar. The natural sweetness inherent in certain foods is accentuated by cinnamon without the need for adding sugar that can increase levels of blood glucose. There is no consensus on whether cinnamon really lowers blood sugar, but it remains an ideal spice to put in a variety of dishes.
If you are expecting and suspect that you might have gestational diabetes, it is imperative that you ask your doctor to help you. By not controlling gestational diabetes, you are putting the health of yourself and your baby in jeopardy. 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.
Glucose tablets are a helpful course of action to take for those with hypoglycemia, provided you speak with a physician beforehand. These tablets might be very beneficial for you because they are portable and easier to digest than sugary foods. This might prove helpful when you need to take something that will increase your glucose level quickly.
Smoking is bad for anyone, but it’s especially bad for diabetics. Smoking can cause negative effects to your health. Smoking can make a person resistant to insulin, and those who are not diabetic already may be at risk for type 2 diabetes.
One popular myth on diabetes forums and elsewhere is that you can’t eat any sugar at all if you are diabetic. You don’t need to eliminate sugar completely, but you have to be smart with sweets. You will still be able to indulge in small servings of your favorite sweets on special occasions. 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.
If you have diabetes and like to snack, resisting the “quick fix” snacks in vending machines is really hard. At all costs avoid this temptation, and try a fruit, or perhaps a veggie.
Go forth with confidence now that you can be in control of this disease and live with it comfortably. Keep in mind that the only way that this article will help you is if you actually put the advice to use. So do not waste time getting started, and you will see results soon.