You may feel helpless and trapped if you have diabetes. If you have diabetes issues of your own, you can make use of this guide and its advice to understand your condition better and manage its symptoms more effectively. Simply follow these easy steps to see better results.
Blood Sugar
The glycemic index is a number that all foods have. It lets you know how the food will affect your blood sugar. Remember, the lower the GI number, the better for a diabetic!
Add some almonds to your diet to keep your cravings low and not have an effect on your blood sugar level. Unsalted almonds, especially raw ones, are packed with nutrients, protein and fiber to stabilize blood sugar and give you plenty of other health benefits. Keep some to snack on while watching TV.
Many foods, such as eggs or beans, are packed full of protein and are great for someone with diabetes. Try various things to keep you healthy and avert the boredom of a strict diet.
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, it is important to be tested for sleep apnea as well. In the event that you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, following up on treatment options is essential to avoid the chance of serious complications.
Managing your everyday life in an orderly and consistent manner can make it flow with more ease. Don’t stumble around looking for items, such as insulin or associated equipment; have a place for it and keep it there. Consistent testing should be a routine part of your day in order to avoid forgetfulness in recording your insulin levels.
Lower the risk of getting diabetes by eating a diet high in fiber. To reduce your risks of diabetes, eat plenty of whole grains, and avoid foods with a high glycemic index, such as processed white bread. It has been widely researched and reported that those who eat a good portion of whole grains will have a lower chance of developing diabetes.
You should understand which foods have high glycemic indexes, as they can increase your blood sugar in a hurry. Breads, desserts, juices, pastas and cereals are some of the foods that have a high glycemic index. Eating processed food will do your blood sugar no favors. Try eating fruits, veggies, meats, and fish instead.
Losing weight does not have to be expensive, and there are many fun activities you can participate in which don’t cost any thing at all, such as jogging or swimming in a lake. For example, you could do chin-ups on a jungle gym, or you could lift weights with fabric bags or canned goods.
If you’re diabetic, you must learn to indulge healthily. You will not necessarily have to give up everything sweet. When you can effectively manage your blood glucose levels, you shouldn’t worry to much about sneaking in the occasional sweet treat. You can add a dessert into your meal by removing carbohydrates that equal the dessert.
Vision Problems
If you start to have vision problems, you need to talk to your doctor. A number of different vision problems can be caused by diabetes, such as diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. Be sure to have your vision checked as soon as possible to prevent further damage, which can include blindness.
If you are a diabetic who is addicted to processed foods, it can be tough to stop grabbing snacks from the cupboard or the office vending machine. It is important, though, that you bypass these snacks and eat a complex carbohydrate, such as fruit or vegetables.
Walnuts add a touch of nutrition to your salad. Walnuts are rich in monosaturated fats, which can help you manage your diabetes by improving the way the cells in your body process insulin. Not only that, but walnuts are also great sources of vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids. They are also tasty and boost your energy levels.
If you have diabetes, it is very important to take great care in managing what you eat. The food you eat will change your blood sugar level almost immediately after you eat, so you need to monitor and log what you are eating. Large meals will need larger doses of insulin to process, and small meals require less. If you watch what you’re eating, you can manage your blood glucose levels.
Instead of eating three square meals, eat five or six light meals daily as part of your diabetes management plan. Eating regularly throughout your day stabilizes your blood sugar levels. Frequent meals also help to eliminate the risk of binge eating, since you will never feel ravenous.
If you find a high glucose reading immediately after treating a low reading, do not be unduly alarmed. A high blood sugar level can be caused by two factors: hormones that stimulate the release of glucose into your bloodstream and the influx of glucose from your food. Together the two sources may overload your body with glucose. Next time, eat or drink half the amount you would normally ingest, then check your levels after 30 minutes.
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.
This makes your baby more likely to be a diabetic. Save your child from having to deal with this disease, and attend to your health now.
Favorite Foods
Alter your favorite foods instead of eliminating them. Many people find the most difficult aspect of diabetes is its restrictive diet. Diabetics sometimes believe that they must totally give up the foods they love. Others will continue to eat their favorite, unhealthy foods. The better way is to alter the recipes for your favorite foods to make them acceptable. Lots of foods are converted into diabetic-proof favorites with small ingredient alternatives.
A reduced glucose reaction could realistically cause high blood sugar readings, so do not be too concerned. You could be experiencing a release of hormones triggered by your body in response to lower glucose. In addition, it’s possible that you are over-treating the low glucose by too much food or liquids. Next time, eat or drink half the amount you would normally ingest, then check your levels after 30 minutes.
Even if you’re feeling sick and not hungry, a diabetic needs to be more careful about how and when they eat. You need to maintain your water intake due the feeling of dehydration during low glucose periods.
Smoking can be dangerous and especially if you are diabetic. Do not start smoking and if you already do, you should consider quitting. Smoking can make a person resistant to insulin, and those who are not diabetic already may be at risk for type 2 diabetes.
A common misconception regarding diabetes is that the diabetic is not allowed any sugar. There is no need to cut sugar out entirely, but you do need to be vigilant about what sweets you eat. On special occasions, treat yourself to a small portion of an excellent dessert. Plan carefully and balance your splurge with the other carbohydrates consumed that day, preferably by bypassing them.
For anyone suffering from hypoglycemia, it is best to speak with a doctor to see if you should be taking glucose tablets. These tablets will help increase your sugar levels quickly and more effectively.
Never rely only on urine ketone tests to measure the amount of glucose in your blood. The only time you will have high ketone levels is when your blood glucose levels are greater than 200 mg/dl. The ADA suggest that diabetics use testing strips and finger sticks for more accurate testing.
These tips should help you manage your condition, but you should keep looking for more information. You can probably think of many ways to put this information to use already. Put these tips into motion now and you will see your quality of life improve.