There are many pieces of literature out there you can read to get a quick introduction on diabetes, but few are offering any helpful tips you can use to learn about or control the disease. If you need some easy and accurate tips and tactics relating to diabetes, please read this article thoroughly.

Diabetics have to watch their carbohydrate intake, and bread is a major player in a typical American’s diet. Try to find a bread with at least 5 grams of fiber AND protein per slice so that eating it is validated by the nutrients it’s carrying. Also avoid preservatives as they’re not healthy either.

You can make a sandwich into a lettuce wrap, or even use it on a burger as a bun, but have you thought of doing a hot dog wrap? If you buy preservative-free hot dogs for a once-a-month treat, wrap them in a piece of lettuce to make them a bit healthier!

You should test yourself for sleep apnea if you suffer from diabetes. To keep yourself in optimal health, it is critical that you treat any sleeping disorder you may have as quickly as possible.

Drinking water is important for everyone, but is especially so for diabetics. There is a reason that most diabetics drink like a fish before they are diagnosed and begin treatment! Keep your water intake high to help you keep your weight down and your hydration up, especially if you exercise.

If you have diabetes or are at risk for developing it, it is important that you lose weight. Being overweight or obese can cause blood glucose levels to be dangerously high, which can cause severe complications, including coma or death. Try to eat healthier and stick to a moderate exercise plan. It’s never to late to change, and you can be successful no matter how many previous failed attempts you’ve had.

If you’re having trouble finding organizations in your area that can help you get help with your Diabetes, dial 211. The United Way can point you in the right direction towards support groups and other organizations who will help you get discounted supplies and prescriptions so you can stay healthy.

If you are the primary caregiver of a person with diabetes, you may need support also. You carry a heavy load caring for and making decisions for your loved one as well as monitoring their diet and lifestyle to keep them healthy. If you feel overwhelmed, ask for help. Your doctor can recommend respite care to give you a break, or even a nurse to help with care. You don’t have to do it alone.

To better maintain your blood sugars, drink only water. Most other beverages are high in sugar, and diet soda can lead to dehydration, which can also cause your blood sugar levels to spike. Carrying around bottled water and drinking it regularly will help you keep your blood sugar levels where they’re supposed to be.

Eat a well-balanced diet. Since there is no official diabetes diet, it’s important that you handle your condition by eating a healthy diet that is high in fruits, vegetables and lean meats and low in fat, sugar and simple carbohydrates. If you eat everything in moderation and are controlling your diabetes through medication, you should have fairly stable blood glucose levels.

When it comes to planning a diet for someone with diabetes, it is crucial to know what types of foods will cause blood sugar to rapidly increase. This is important because sugar management is the key component to dealing with diabetes. Stay away from pastas, sodas, and white breads.

To deal with the foot swelling that many with diabetes suffer from, always buy shoes one size larger and wider than you would normally wear. In the morning, pair your shoes with thick cotton socks, and switch to a thinner pair of socks when your feet swell later in the day.

Before going to a restaurant for dinner you should have a piece of fruit or a few veggie sticks. This will prevent you from going to a restaurant and nibbling on the bread basket or chips that restaurants usually give patrons while they are waiting on their meals to be prepared.

If you have diabetes, you want to make sure you limit the amount of pasta you consume. It is really easy to eat too much of it because it is so delicious. Before you know it, you will eat more than you think you have eaten, which can really elevate your glucose levels. A cup of pasta has as many calories as three slices of bread. Keep that in mind the next time you eat pasta.

Learn what foods have a high-glycemic index sweet like cookies, sugar-laden soft drinks, as well as carbohydrate filled breads. Cereals, and pastas are all high-glycemic index foods. These foods can cause your blood sugar to rise very quickly, usually referred to as a spike. Stick to the perimeter of the store, with fresh produce and meats, and avoid heavily processed foods.

It is important to plan ahead when you are a diabetic. You will not be able to skip meals or go a long time without eating because it could have negative effects on your blood sugar. It is important to eat a healthy, balanced and regular diet to live a comfortable life with diabetes.

When you are diabetic your insurance will normally pay for blood testing equipment you can use in the privacy of your own home to manage your condition. Make sure you go over all of the manufacturer’s directions to ensure that you are properly taking care of your very important equipment.

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.

If you have diabetes, read up on a great new discovery! The artificial pancreas has been created! It delivers insulin to your system without injections and tests so far, have found it to be very effective and safe. If you are looking for an alternative to traditional insulin delivery systems, be sure to ask your doctor about this technological miracle.

Hopefully after reading this article you have a better idea of what you want to do to manage your diabetes. Now that you have an idea what to do you can form strategies to help you throughout your daily life, if you apply all that you learned then managing you diabetes should just become natural over time.