Diabetes is no laughing matter, and can cause serious health consequences, including death. The best way to ensure a healthy life while dealing with diabetes is through education. Learn as much as you can on this serious disease and how to best care for yourself. The following article is chock full of diabetes information.
A large number of foods have an assigned “glycemic index,” which is a number that tells you how much the food affects your blood sugar after eating it. Keep in mind that lower GI numbers are what a diabetic needs.
There are millions of diabetics in this world. Doing this will keep you from feeling upset about the news.
Sleep Apnea
Get tested for sleep apnea if you suffer from diabetes. If you do have sleep apnea, start treatment right away to protect yourself from future health issues.
Switch to a diet high in fiber in order to lower your risk of developing diabetes. High glycemic index foods, including processed foods and white bread, can raise your risk for developing diabetes, so you should eliminate these foods from your diet and replace them with whole grain foods. 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 are a pregnant woman and believe you might be a carrier of gestational diabetes, you should consult with a trusted doctor immediately. You may be putting yourself and your child in grave danger if you do not properly care for gestational diabetes. The best way to improve your diabetic condition during pregnancy is through diet and exercise.
If you’re a diabetic who enjoys snacking, it may be difficult to resist vending machine goodies. You need to exercise willpower and ditch that processed snack, and choose a complex carbohydrate such as vegetables or fruit instead.
If you are a diabetic, you need to carefully watch what you eat. Different types of foods have different effects on your blood sugar levels. Depending on the amount of exercise you get, you may need more insulin for large meals, and less for small meals. By watching your meals, you will be able to better manage your blood sugar.
As a diabetic, rather than eating three meals a day, consider eating five to six lighter meals. It will be easier to stabilize your blood sugar levels if you have more frequent meals during the day. Besides, eating more regularly should help you reduce your snacking.
Blood Sugar
Don’t be surprised when you find your blood sugar levels soaring directly after having very low glucose. This is caused by one of two factors: your body responds to low glucose by releasing hormones, and you may actually be eating or drinking more than is necessary in response to lowered glucose levels. Try reducing your meal by about half the next time and then check on your blood sugar level about 30 minutes later.
Unless your doctor has given you different instructions, fast-acting insulin should be taken between one and 15 minutes before you eat. Fast-acting insulin is extremely effective for maintaining blood glucose, but only if it is properly timed and dosed for each individual diabetic.
Rather than completely eliminating your favorite foods, aim to make them healthier. Adjusting to a diet that will benefit your diabetes can understandably be a struggle for many people. It is a myth that all the foods you love are off the table now. Other people keep eating their favorites regardless of what their diet should be. Instead of tempting fate, a smarter idea is to think about your favorite foods and make healthy substitutions wherever you can. By adjusting some of the ingredients, many foods that are bad for a diabetic diet can become diabetic-friendly.
One myth is that you have to avoid all sugars. You don’t have to get rid of sugar in your diet, just watch your sweets intake. On special occasions, treat yourself to a small portion of an excellent dessert. Because consuming desserts adds additional carbohydrates to your diet, you should reduce other foods you consume that have carbohydrates when you eat this treat.
It is vital that diabetics learn to manage their bodies to maintain their good health. This article is packed with useful information for anyone who has been touched by diabetes.
