Diabetes is a really serious disease and can devastate one’s life. To lead an enjoyable, healthy life, diabetics need to learn the proper protocols for treating the disease. The article below is filled with powerful information to help diabetics stay healthy.
All food has a ‘glycemic index’ this is how much your blood sugar will be affected when you eat them. The lower the glycemic index, the better it is for you to eat!
The glycemic index is a number that reflects how much effect different foods have on your blood sugar level. As a diabetic, you want to eat the foods with a low glycemic index most often.
A wide variety of foods are rich in protein, including obvious sources like beans and eggs, and other healthful choices like dairy and tofu. Excite your taste buds with new and different flavors!
If your child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, you might think your life is ruined, but it isn’t. Diabetes is quite common, and there is no reason your child can’t maintain a high quality of life after being diagnosed. The world’s oldest living diabetic has lived for 90 years and has been around since before the current medical advances.
You must educate yourself on healthy indulgences if you are a diabetic. You don’t need to eliminate sweets entirely. You can eat dessert every so often if you’re blood sugar is controlled. Plan for desserts by removing an equal number of carbs from the main part of your meal.
To satisfy your hunger without throwing off your blood glucose levels, snack on almonds. Almonds without salt are quite nutritious, because of the protein and other good things in them. Keep a bowl within easy reach so that you can grab a few anytime the hunger pains start to set in.
Walnuts can be a nutritious way to boost the nutrition in your salad and help manage your diabetes. Consuming walnuts can help with diabetes management because they have monounsaturated fats, which can decrease insulin resistance in cells. They also contain antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins, plus they give you a major energy boost and taste great!
Sleep Apnea
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, it is important that you get some sort of sleep apnea test done as soon as you can. If you do have sleep apnea, start treatment right away to protect yourself from future health issues.
Establish a routine to keep yourself on track. For instance, keep your meter, journal, and insulin in one specific place so it will be easy to access in the mornings. Stick to a routine when testing your blood sugar, and you are less likely to miss a step or forget to log your levels.
If hypoglycemia is an issue, make sure you carry some sort of sugar food with you always, such as gum. Hypoglycemia attacks can happen at any time, so you need to be prepared for that. If you suffer from hypoglycemia, avoid attacks by never skipping meals.
You can save money by ordering your supplies online rather than going to your local pharmacy. Many of these pharmacies allow you to have shipments sent automatically each month, so you won’t run out of supplies.
Gestational Diabetes
These days, diabetics are everywhere. Understanding this will help you to feel more comfortable with your diagnosis and make things simpler for you.
If you are expecting and suspect that you might have gestational diabetes, it is imperative that you ask your doctor to help you. If you do have gestational diabetes and you choose to look the other way, you are not only putting yourself in harm’s way, but your baby’s health as well. If you do have gestational diabetes, your doctor can help you control it using both prescription medication and dietary changes.
You are not at fault if you acquire gestational diabetes. It is common and is virtually out of anybody’s control. If you want to keep stress out of your life, you need to keep your stress down and stay thinking positive and happy.
If you smoke and have diabetes, try quitting. Chemicals present in cigarettes can raise the level of sugar in your blood significantly if you are diabetic. If you have issues with quitting, talk to your doctor about options to help you stop.
If you’re hypoglycemic, you should carry sugary food or gum with you constantly. Stay prepared for the advent of a hypoglycemic attack, as they can take place out of nowhere. If you suffer from hypoglycemia, avoid attacks by never skipping meals.
Frequently remind yourself why it is so important that you keep your diabetes under control. Stay conscious of the hobbies and activities you enjoy that rely on your good health. How can diabetes affect those hobbies if not controlled? Stay focused on what you find important and let that motivate the management of your diabetes.
Alter your favorite foods instead of eliminating them. The difficult thing related to a diagnosis of diabetes is the way it restricts your diet. Many people mistakenly assume that they will be forced to forgo their favorite dishes. Some people will eat what they like in even if it is not a good decision. Taking a close look at the ingredients of your favorites, and adjusting them to meet your nutritional requirements is the best way to go. You would be surprised just how many dishes can be made diabetic-friendly just by using healthier replacements for offending ingredients.
Even if you’re feeling sick and not hungry, a diabetic needs to be more careful about how and when they eat. Low glucose levels will lead to dehydration, so keep water handy.
There are a lot of ways you can shed some pounds to control diabetes, you can run or work out at your local park. You can try doing push ups or sit ups when you have some free time, or make extra efforts to move around the house.
Smoking is dangerous to your health, but it is especially harmful to a person with diabetes. Do not start smoking and if you already do, you should consider quitting. Cigarettes will make your body more resistant to insulin and can increase the risk of getting type 2 diabetes.
Egg Whites
If you have diabetes, eating egg whites for breakfast is a great option. Egg whites have a very low amount of fat and calories, and they’re packed with protein that you need to begin the day in the right way. Use egg whites just as you would a whole egg. Whether scrambled or made into a mushroom and ham omelet, they will give you a good start to your day.
Be sure to call and schedule a doctor’s appointment if you are having issues with your eyesight. Unfortunately diabetes can cause all sorts of eye problems, including cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. It is important to have these problems taken care of because the worse case scenario is that it can cause blindness.
Make sure to take along an insulated cold bag to store your insulin supply when you travel. Insulin should remain within a finite temperature range and this sort of bag will prevent it from getting too cold or too hot.
As was stated in the above article, diabetes is very serious, and it’s a must that it be treated in the proper manner. Diabetics need to educate themselves, as much as possible, on the disease, and learn all they can about ways they can care for their overall health. Any diabetics whom happens to read through the above tips will have taken another small step towards a healthier, normal life; but only if they choose to implement them and continue learning.