It is not the thought of a small finger prick that is scary about a diagnosis of diabetes. Conditions that stem from diabetes, such as diabetic retinopathy, tend to be the scariest to sufferers. Do whatever you can to help yourself prior to getting to that point. Apply the advice in the following paragraphs to manage your condition.
Foods have a “glycemic index” number which says how much they will affect blood sugar based on what is in them. Look for lower GI ratings if you struggle with diabetes.
You can get protein from a variety of other foods, including dairy products, eggs, tofu, and beans. Avoid burnout by trying new foods and recipes.
When you have diabetes, you need to learn to indulge your body in a healthier manner. You may not need to give up sweets completely. You can eat dessert every so often if you’re blood sugar is controlled. You can add a dessert into your meal by removing carbohydrates that equal the dessert.
Add a few walnuts to your salad for some extra nutrition and a bit of crunch! Walnuts can help keep your sugar levels where they should be because they have monosaturated fats. 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.
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”.
If you consume more foods that are high in fiber, your chance of diabetes will decline. The risk for diabetes increases with foods such as enriched wheat flour or white bread. Choose whole grain wheat if you want to lower the chance of contracting diabetes. Whole grain foods are not only good for maintaining diabetes, but they can also help to prevent development of the condition in children.
If you get hypoglycemia, it’s absolutely crucial you have gum or some type of sugary food always available to you. Hypoglycemia attacks can happen at any time, so you need to be prepared for that. Skipping breakfast is a bad idea that makes attacks more likely, because your body will be especially desperate for sugar.
You need to be aware of all foods that have high glycemic index, which can raise the level of blood sugar quickly in your body. Foods with high glycemic indexes include pastas, cereal, breads, juices, and desserts. Your blood sugars do not respond well to foods that are processed either. Instead, make the healthy decision to enjoy fresh fruits, frozen vegetables, and unprocessed fish and meats.
Gestational Diabetes
If you have a baby on the way and show symptoms of gestational diabetes, call your general practitioner right away. If you don’t control gestational diabetes, not only your health, but your baby’s health, is in jeopardy. Your doctor can give you a prescription to help with the diabetes, and also help with a food plan.
If you’re a person who likes to snack and a diabetic, it can be extremely difficult to fight the urge to eat a treat you see in your kitchen, or in vending machines. It’s crucial that you avoid these unhealthy snacks, and instead fill up on fruit and vegetables.
You have to be meticulous about what you’re eating when you have diabetes. Foods change blood sugar levels differently in different people, so it’s up to you to keep track of how foods affect you. Large meals will need larger doses of insulin to process, and small meals require less. Keeping a close eye on your meals will help you to keep your glucose levels in check, and stay healthy.
Don’t be surprised when you find your blood sugar levels soaring directly after having very low glucose. 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. Try lowering the amount of food or drink by half and give your levels a check at 30 minutes.
It’s important to remember why you choose to keep your diabetes under control. Think about what keeps you from doing the things you love, and how you can change that. This can help you keep yourself focused on the positives in your life and motivated in the management of your diabetes.
Even when diabetes makes you feel ill, or steals your appetite, you must take care to nourish yourself regularly, and keep track of your glucose levels. If your level of glucose is low, make sure you drink plenty of water so that you do not get dehydrated.
Exercise on a regular basis. If you exercise regularly, you can ensure your body will effectively process glucose and insulin. Exercise can be very beneficial to someone with diabetes.
Sleep Apnea
Individuals diagnosed with diabetes also typically have other health concerns that are not identified at first; sleep apnea is one that can be very harmful. Sleep apnea means that you stop breathing for brief periods of time while sleeping. If you are fatigued during the day, you need to have your doctor check you for sleep apnea.
As the introduction of this article mentioned, it’s the potential to go blind and other debilitating side effects associated with diabetes that really scare people. You can work past the fear and use the information you’ve learned here to ensure that you’re never a victim of these nasty complications.