The diagnosis of diabetes often leaves people wondering if they can have a normal life. This article is packed with useful guidelines for treating and living with diabetes without giving up one’s life. The lifestyle choices that you make can have a big impact on your overall health.
Foods have a “glycemic index” number which says how much they will affect blood sugar based on what is in them. As a diabetic, you want to eat the foods with a low glycemic index most often.
Almonds are a great snack to fill you up without affecting your blood sugar levels. Natural, unsalted almonds are healthy for you, as they are full of protein, fiber and healthy nutrients. You can keep a full bowl right by your couch so they are an easy grab while you watch television.
In modern times, you can find diabetics anywhere. This will reduce the stress and shame associated with the diagnosis, and just make your life easier.
Corn Syrup
Pop, ketchup, and many other sweet confections contain this item, so read the nutrition data and ingredients on the label, and put it back on the shelf if it does have corn syrup in it. Sometimes, this ingredient is labeled differently, depending on the country of your residence. In Canada for example, high fructose corn syrup is usually found on food labels as “glucose” or “fructose.”
Online pharmacies can be a lot cheaper than a physical location for diabetic medication. You can order diabetes medication or supplies on a monthly basis, so that you’ll get your new shipment each month before your prescriptions run out.
You don’t need to sign up at a gym. Exercise for free by taking a walk or jogging. This will help with weight loss and overall fitness. Use the local jungle gym for pull ups, and you can even weight lift with canned goods or other heavy household items, such as bottles of laundry detergent.
Gestational Diabetes
Be sure to consult with your doctor if you are pregnant and think you may have gestational diabetes. You can damage the health of you and your baby if you do not seek treatment for your gestational diabetes. There are safe medicines you can take while pregnant for this condition, and your doctor can also provide you with an appropriate diet to follow.
If you suffer from diabetes and you have vision problems, you must discuss this with your doctor. Diabetes is associated with a number of eye problems, including cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. It’s crucial to have eyes tested for these conditions regularly; the worse thing that could happen is blindness, so it is essential to catch these problems early.
Watching what you eat is of critical importance when you have diabetes. Every type of food can have a different effect on glucose levels, so it is crucial that you monitor your food intake closely. Eating a large meal may require a higher dose of insulin than smaller meals, if you have to use insulin. By keeping an eye out on what you put in your body, you can effectively monitor your glucose levels.
Don’t blame yourself for being inflicted with gestational diabetes. Pregnancy often causes gestational diabetes, and there is really not much you can do to prevent it if you are susceptible to it. Keep your stress levels down, and think positive thoughts about yourself and your child.
If you suffer from diabetes and you are a smoker, you should try to quit. Smoking is a poor health decision for those around you and for yourself as it can make your blood sugar dangerous. If you have issues with quitting, talk to your doctor about options to help you stop.
If you suffer from diabetes, a great spice you can add to your foods without adding calories, sugar or sodium to your diet, is cinnamon. Cinnamon brings out the natural sweetness in certain foods without the added sugar that can raise blood glucose levels. Research has shown different results when it comes to whether or not cinnamon decreases glucose levels; even if it doesn’t, it is still a good spice to use.
Smoking is bad for everyone, though it is a lot worse for a diabetic. Partaking in this vice will open the door to seriously negative health consequences. Cigarettes will make your body more resistant to insulin and can increase the risk of getting type 2 diabetes.
The tips above should have given you a good idea of the little things you can do to manage your Diabetes and have a fulfilled life. There is no reason for you to live less of a life than you want to live. You are the only person who can control the type of life you have whether you have diabetes or not.