It is common for newly-diagnosed diabetics to think that their lives are over now that they have the dreaded diabetes. That is simply not true, and the truth will be exposed in the tips below, thus leaving you to rebuild the pieces of a functioning existence within your everyday life. The lifestyle choices that you make can have a big impact on your overall health.
Look at the glycemic index on the labels of the foods you buy. This is an indicator of how this food will affect sugar levels. Having a low GI number is important if you are trying to manage your diabetes.
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. Select foods with a low glycemic index.
Eating almonds can satisfy a snack craving without sending your blood sugar through the roof. Consuming almonds can decrease the blood sugar surges that often accompany meals. Have some handy so you can munch on them when it’s time for a snack.
If you want to add a nutritious touch to your salad, throw in some walnuts! Walnuts contain monounsaturated fats. These fats are great at helping to control diabetes. They also contain antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins, plus they give you a major energy boost and taste great!
Add more fibers to your diet to reduce the risks of getting diabetes. 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. Eating whole grains more often has been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes.
If you have diabetes, you should get a sleep apnea test as soon as possible. Sleep apnea can affect your health and your quality of life, but you can minimize the effects by getting treatment early.
The chips and candy in a vending machine may seem to promise quick energy, but a diabetic should avoid these snacks. Keep these snacks out of your kitchen cupboard also. But it is important to forgo those snacks in favor of a complex carbohydrate like vegetables or fruit.
This can lead to your offspring having a better chance of getting diabetes in his future. Don’t curse your kid with this condition, and take care of your health today instead.
Unless your doctor tells you different, you should take your fast-acting insulin no more than 15 minutes before eating. This insulin helps your blood sugar stay at a proper level when it is used properly. But it needs to be dosed and timed out properly.
High fructose corn syrup is found in a surprising number of food products, so you should check the ingredients on most drinks or condiments before buying them. In Canada this item is labeled as “glucose/fructose”.
Blood Glucose
A variety of spices can add flavor to a diabetics diet without adding sugar, fat or calories. Cinnamon can also accentuate the natural sweetness of some foods without adding sugar that may raise your blood glucose levels. Some researchers believe cinnamon can lower blood glucose levels.
One myth is that you have to avoid all sugars. Use wisdom and knowledge to monitor the sugar content that you do consume. You will still be able to indulge in small servings of your favorite sweets on special occasions. If you do choose to indulge, you should compensate by cutting carbohydrates from your meals that day.
Learn the foods that have high glycemic indexes, as these can cause a sudden spike in your blood sugar levels. Breads, desserts, pastas, cereal, and even juices are products that are high in the glycemic index. Foods that have been overly processed can wreak havoc on blood sugar levels. Eat foods such as fresh veggies and fruit, fish, and lean meats.
While gestational diabetes typically goes way post-birth, you must stil have your glucose checked periodically. Many women believe that once they are no longer pregnant, they will not continue to have problems with their blood sugar; that is not always the case.
Be sure to pack an insulated bag that can hold your insulin if you are a diabetic and you are going to be traveling. Insulated bags protect insulin from spoiling due to temperature extremes.
People with diabetes are likely to have other undiagnosed health problems, such as a serious sleep apnea condition. This is when you stop breathing in your sleep. If you feel very tired during the day, get checked out for sleep apnea.
Gestational diabetes is becoming much more common nowadays, so be sure to speak with your doctor about your concerns and look into getting tested. If you don’t control your diabetes, it harms both you and your baby. Your doctor may prescribe certain medications that are safe to take during pregnancy, and he can also advise you of what to eat.
After diagnosis, you should study the condition so that you will know as much as you can. By gathering as much information as possible, they ensure the best possible care for themselves. Having wisdom is strength and gives you the best chance at managing diabetes.
Skipping meals can cause blood glucose levels to rise because the liver releases glucose to give your body the fuel it needs to function. This can negatively impact a diabetic’s health. Regular meals and snacks that contain carbohydrates will keep extra glucose from being released.
You should have a handy bag containing all of the equipment you need to deal with blood sugar issues. Keep more than one bag, in fact, so that your odds of being out of reach of one are lower. Pack it with syringes, meter hooks, insulin and whatever else you may need so that you never want for these necessities.
Sometimes when you’re a diabetic, and you are tempted to snack, it is hard to resist the goodies that surround you. You need to exercise willpower and ditch that processed snack, and choose a complex carbohydrate such as vegetables or fruit instead.
Introduce vinegar to your dinner table. Studies show that about half an ounce of vinegar, swallowed prior to a meal, can make your blood sugar rise slower than normal after the meal. Vinegar keeps the food you eat in your stomach for longer and slows the digestion of starches.
The tips above should have given you a good idea of the little things you can do to manage your Diabetes and have a fulfilled life. There is no reason for you to live less of a life than you want to live. You are the only person who can control the type of life you have whether you have diabetes or not.