Avoid Diabetes Complications By Following These Steps
Diabetes is an insulin based condition that can often result in high blood sugar levels for those who have it. There are many things you can do to avoid diabetes if you do not already have it. The following article will provide you with tips to stay diabetes free.
A great breakfast for a Diabetic is oatmeal! Be selective, though! Don’t buy the kind that comes in pouches and has tons of salt and sugar in it! Buy quick oats or regular rolled oats. Make it every morning for yourself. Top it with cinnamon and apples for a tasty meal!
Make sure to take your diabetes medications exactly as directed. You are NOT a doctor, nor is anyone else giving you advice other than your physician. They tell you how often to take your prescriptions and how much you should take at a time because they know, so follow their directions.
Test your blood sugar before bed if you are Diabetic. It’s important to eat something if your sugar is low to make sure you’ll be okay over the long night until the morning. If your blood sugar is just right then it’s advisable to take a few bites of something to keep it up until you wake.
If you are diabetic, be sure to wear loose-fitting socks and stockings. Special socks are available for diabetics that have more stretch around the ankles and legs, to provide better comfort and circulation, as well as, to help keep your feet and legs healthier. Good circulation is imperative for the legs and feet of diabetics.
To better control your blood sugars, lose any excess weight. If you’re suffering from type 2 diabetes even a small decrease in weight can significantly improve your condition. Try eating more non-processed foods and reducing your portion sizes. You can also try getting a moderate amount of aerobic exercises. All these things will help you manage your diabetes as you lose weight.
Find out what your blood glucose target levels should be and ensure that you’re meeting them. Diabetes control means knowing what you’re up against, so keep a journal with your goal numbers listed so you can easily see how well you’re doing every day. Once you have your blood glucose under control you’ll feel immensely healthier!
The website Act1diabetes.org can help Diabetics with low incomes swap out their Diabetic supplies for new ones. It’s free for people who can’t afford to pay even a discounted price for the service, so look into it if you are having problems financially or have a limited income at the moment.
Create a journal, and keep track of your blood sugar level every time you check it. Sometimes your blood sugar can reach dangerous levels without symptoms presenting themselves. If you don’t keep track of your levels, you put yourself at a greater risk for kidney failure, stroke, gout, heart disease, and other debilitating maladies.
To reduce your risk of heart disease, carefully monitor your triglyceride cholesterol and blood pressure levels. One of the most common complications of diabetes is heart disease, and the best way to avoid that risk is to set goals for all of these levels and then, stick to them. Ask your doctor where your levels should be.
A great before bed snack for a Diabetic is a glass of skim milk with two tablespoons of Whey protein added. This gives you something to keep your blood sugar levels stable over night, while the protein will help the milk digest and keep it from spiking your blood sugar too high while you sleep.
If you have diabetes, it can be difficult to go out to eat. Research menus ahead of time so that you can plan your meal. If a menu is not available online, you can stop by the restaurant ahead of time and ask for a copy, or you can call and have it read to you by phone. Knowing what the restaurant serves will help you to become more prepared for how you can eat healthy at the restaurant.
Before going to a restaurant for dinner you should have a piece of fruit or a few veggie sticks. This will prevent you from going to a restaurant and nibbling on the bread basket or chips that restaurants usually give patrons while they are waiting on their meals to be prepared.
If you are diabetic, lose that extra weight. Scientific studies have shown that losing about two pounds of body weight can decrease the risks related to diabetes by about sixteen percent. A few dietary changes and some moderate exercise can get you well on the way to reaching your optimum weight. You’ll be doing your health a favor by making the effort to get the pounds off.
Learning to eat right is an important factor in controlling diabetes. The key steps to developing an approriate diet is cutting back on refined carbohydrates, keeping portions sizes under control, establishing and maintaining a regular meal schedule, and consuming a variety of vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Simply speaking, a diabetes-friendly diet is low in fats, high in nutrients, and contains a moderate number of calories.
Try strength training. Most people are aware that exercise is beneficial for everybody, and especially for diabetics. However, often the emphasis is put on cardiovascular exercises. These stamina-building aerobic activities are an important part of a good exercise regime, but don’t forget to include some strength training. Strength training has been shown to reduce the amount of fat found inside the body cavity, surrounding your organs making it just as heart-healthy as traditional cardiovascular exercises.
If you are diabetic, make sure that you take care of your teeth and gums. This is extremely important, because diabetics are at a higher risk of becoming victim to gum disease. Brush and floss, at least twice a day, and visit your dentist twice a year. Make sure your dentist is aware of your diabetes diagnosis.
There are a lot of options out there when it comes to blood glucose monitors. Don’t be overwhelmed by the choices. Before you begin shopping, decide what factors are most important to you such as speed, testing location, cost, data analysis, etc. Once you know what is important, it will be easier to narrow down your choices and choose the one that is best for you.
If you have diabetes, read up on a great new discovery! The artificial pancreas has been created! It delivers insulin to your system without injections and tests so far, have found it to be very effective and safe. If you are looking for an alternative to traditional insulin delivery systems, be sure to ask your doctor about this technological miracle.
The odds here are great that you know more now than what you knew before, and that means that you’re well on your way to managing this dangerous disease you have. Knowledge is most certainly power in any conceivable scenario, especially when dealing with diabetes. Use what you’ve learned here and fight this disease.