Having diabetes can be hard for anyone. It can be scary because your immune system is lower, and there are so many health risks. This article will give you a lot of advise on diabetes, and many tips to make it a little easier for you to learn how to deal with having diabetes.
Anything you take to help with your Diabetes should come recommended by a medical professional, and you should seek at least a second opinion if it is not a mainstream treatment. Diabetes is not a disease which should be taken lightly, so make sure that you are dealing with reputable, knowledgeable health care providers.
Quit smoking. Try again if you’ve tried before. Nicotine constricts your blood vessels. Diabetes already have a problem with circulation to the extremeties; that’s what leads to vision problems and the need for amputations. Smoking increases these risks, as well as being bad for your health overall. Ask your doctor for some resources to help you quit.
Think about what you drink. Diabetics need to be careful of everything they ingest, so don’t forget to monitor the nutrition data and ingredients on the items your drinking. Juice, for example, is very high in sugar, so you should drink it in moderation. Milk can be high in fat, so stick to skim.
Ask your Physician if they have any supply samples of your Diabetes medication or syringes. It is unlikely they will have monitors to give you, or test strips or lancets for that matter, but you can get those from your pharmacist instead. They often have monitors for free, so make sure to ask!
DefeatDiabetes.org helps people who are struggling financially to receive supplies which will help them keep their diabetes under control. You can get as much as 35% cash back on purchases through their store, and they have additional programs to give you even deeper discounts if you ask for help through their website.
If you have a family member or loved one suffering with diabetes, it’s vitally important that you offer your help and support to ease their struggle. Sometimes little things such as joining along for doctor appointments, educating yourself with books and website information or just offering a listening ear can all help your loved one feel less alone.
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.
When you are ill or do not have an appetite it is important that you take great care of your health by eating the right foods, especially if you have diabetes. Extended periods of low glucose can leave you feeling dehydrated, so fluids are especially important during this time.
Urine ketone testing should not be your only way to test your sugar levels. Testing through urine only shows that your glucose level is over 200mg per deciliter, and is not specific enough for an accurate reading. Instead of this method, it is recommended by the ADA to use testing strips and finger pricks, which are more accurate.
Cut down on simple carbohydrates. These foods, such as pasta and bread, cause your blood sugar levels to spike which may cause hyperglycemia and a need for more insulin; that may result in a hypoglycemic episode. Stick to complex carbohydrates such as whole grains in order to keep your blood sugar stable.
Smoking has been attributed to the onset of diabetes. Smoking also raises your blood pressure and affects your whole cardiovascular system. It is definitely not a good idea to be smoking if you are diagnosed with diabetes. Smoking also causes lung cancer and affects many other parts of the body that are also affected by the symptoms of diabetes.
Alcohol consumption causes the body to have an excessively high intake of carbohydrates. This raises the blood sugar level in your body and over a period of time significantly increases your chances of getting type 2 diabetes. Routine alcohol consumption at high levels is severely detrimental to your health for many reasons including contributing to diabetes.
Keep a dietary journal. When you have diabetes, it is very important to keep careful track of not only what you eat, but how much, and when you consume them. While many people can remember what they ate that day, can you remember what you ate 2 weeks ago for breakfast? Keeping a food journal gives you a record of your food intake so you can spot patterns and better control your diabetes.
Dealing with diabetes can seem very complicated and overwhelming at first. It is important to take the advice in this article very seriously. Ignoring the fact that your diabetes is real will only make your life more complicated and make it easier for many other health problems to develop in your body.
