Diabetes is a trying time in anyone’s life, but you can make it manageable with the choices you make. It may seem like a daunting task at first but after you get it under control you can expect to live a full life. Following are some handy tips to help you make good decisions. Please read on.
Diabetics can have problems in their eyes due to their condition, so make sure you go to the optometrist for testing at least once a year. Many optometrists have special machines, which can look inside your eyeball to check for the typical damage of a diabetic, and can sometimes diagnose your disease before you even have symptoms!
Keep track of all the medicines you are taking for your Diabetes and any other condition you have in case you ever need to know. You should carry with you information on their names, dosages, and how often you are taking them in case something happens to you when you’re out, or a doctor you’re visiting requests that information.
Eating fresh, non-processed foods is an easy way for a diabetic to keep his or her weight in check and blood sugar stable. By shopping only the outside aisles of the grocery store you will find you’re not exposed to the processed sugary or carbohydrate-laden treats, that can lead to temptation.
You should feel awesome about being in control of your Diabetes, your care, your treatment, and your future. The fact that you’re seeking information on how to better deal with your situation shows what an amazing person you are. Keep up the good work and you’ll find yourself feeling healthy and happy!
Eat foods rich in fiber. By eating fruits, vegetables, and grains you will improve your diet. You will lose weight and feel great. Fiber can help give you more control over your blood sugar and lower your chances of getting heart disease. Other sources of fiber include nuts, seeds, and beans.
To avoid developing more serious health problems because of your diabetes, be sure to take any prescribed medication as directed. Keeping track of medication can be a challenge, but it’s vital to maintaining your health. If your medications have troublesome side effects, see your doctor immediately, and don’t discontinue the medication without their okay.
If you find yourself yawning more frequently than usual at a time of day in which you are ordinarily high-energy, low blood glucose levels may be the culprit. Take your blood sugar measurements to confirm whether or not this is the case; over time you should be able to identify your body’s standard responses to changes in glucose levels.
If you struggle with diabetes, a great tip is to always include healthy carbohydrates in your diet. People with type 2 diabetes who eat a minimal amount of carbohydrates have very low energy and extreme headaches. You should aim to include healthy carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. You will have more energy and less headaches.
You must consider fruit and high-glycemic index vegetables very carefully when planning a diet for Diabetes. Many fruits contain a LOT of sugar, which can affect your blood glucose adversely. Vegetables can cause the same problems, especially in juice form, including carrots, peas, and corn. Try to stick to low GI items like broccoli or apples which are rich in fiber.
While most people notice that they gain weight more easily as they age, this is often more severe in diabetics. As you get older, your body burns fewer and fewer calories following physical activity. If you are diabetic, it is especially important to decrease the amount of food that you eat as you invariably decrease your activity levels. This will lengthen your life and keep you more healthy.
If you are diabetic, you need to be taking extra good care of your feet. More than half of all foot amputations are related to diabetes. Make sure you are cleaning them well, and not putting any extra strain on your feet. That means not standing for long periods of time, or doing anything to strenuous.
To keep your fingertips from cracking when you check your glucose levels, clean them with an anti-bacterial soap. While using alcohol to clean your skin may be your first instinct, it has a drying effect that makes your fingertips more susceptible to cracking. Anti-bacterial soap will ensure your hands are free of bacteria without drying them out.
Due to the nature of diabetes and the circulation issues it can cause, you need to always pay attention to your feet and make sure that there are no infections developing. This is important because it is very easy to get an infection that could lead to the need for amputation if not caught in time or severe blood poisoning from dying skin tissue.
If you are diabetic and you smoke it is important that you take the steps to quit smoking. Smoking causes your circulation to be poor, and a proper circulatory system is absolutely essential for a diabetic. Talk to your doctor for help quitting smoking, there are many aids to help.
If you have Diabetes, journal your eating habits and blood sugar levels. Do this every day, for every meal. The information contained in your journal can help to explain blood sugar spikes, or dips, throughout the day. It can also provide your physician with real life information that can be used for your on going treatment.
If you have been diagnosed with Diabetes, get out of the house and go for a walk every day! If you spend an hour taking a walk your overall health is going to benefit from it, but your sugar levels will as well. You are more insulin sensitive when you get a good amount of exercise each day.
Aren’t you glad you took just a few minutes to read these handy tips? Remember, once you learn to deal and live with your Diabetes, it will become natural to you. It just takes a little time to figure out what is best for you. So, why not start today?