Hearing a diagnosis from your doctor that you have diabetes can be distressing, but having full information about the disease and ways to help manage it can help you create a more comfortable life. This article is full of tips that give you information about diabetes, and what you can do to care for yourself so that you see improvements in your health.
Managing your everyday life in an orderly and consistent manner can make it flow with more ease. Don’t stumble around looking for items, such as insulin or associated equipment; have a place for it and keep it there. When testing, keep track of it as a routine so that you don’t forget any steps. Also, try to jot down your numbers.
If you are a diabetic, you need to discover ways to pacify your sweet tooth safely. Eliminating all sweets from your diet may not be necessary, however. When you can effectively manage your blood glucose levels, you shouldn’t worry to much about sneaking in the occasional sweet treat. You can fit that dessert into your diet if you cut a comparable amount of carbohydrates away from your main course.
Diabetics must be careful during pedicures. You are more prone to getting a foot infection if you’re diabetic, so you need to try and be careful when you get a pedicure, especially if you get a puncture or cut.
Move into the 21st century and save money on diabetes testing supplies and medications by buying from an Internet pharmacy. These services can deliver the medicine to your house every month, so that you do not forget.
Blood Sugar
Find out what foods contain high amounts of glucose and raise blood sugar. Some examples of foods with high glycemic indexes are cereal, desserts, juices, breads and pasta. Processed food is bad for one’s blood sugar. Fresh produce, high grain breads and cereals and healthy sources of protein are the best choices for diabetics.
Diabetics need to be especially careful of the foods they eat. The food you eat will change your blood sugar level almost immediately after you eat, so you need to monitor and log what you are eating. Eating a large meal may require a higher dose of insulin than smaller meals, if you have to use insulin. If you are careful with your eating, though, you can efficiently manage your blood sugar levels.
Do not be surprised if your blood sugar levels spike after treating a low glucose situation. This can be caused by two things: You could be drinking or eating more because of the lower glucose or the lower glucose could be releasing hormones. If you feel like you are overeating, when you see yourself with low glucose levels, try eating half as much and testing yourself 30 minutes later.
If you smoke and have diabetes, try quitting. Not only is smoking bad for everybody, it is especially bad for diabetics because it could raise your blood sugar to dangerous levels. Talk to your doctor about the best ways to quit smoking.
Give yourself a constant reminder of why taking care of your diabetes is so important. Analyze what is keeping you from doing what you love and find a new solution. Focus on what matters to you and find new sources of motivation.
A variety of spices can add flavor to a diabetics diet without adding sugar, fat or calories. In addition to its own unique flavor, cinnamon can enhance the natural sweetness present in some foods, without the addition of blood glucose raising sugar. Research is indeterminate in deciding whether or not cinnamon lowers blood sugar levels, but it’s still a great spice for your diabetic diet.
Some people think that diabetics can’t eat any sugar. However, this is an old wives’ tale. However, you will need to exercise caution and discretion when you do enjoy a small dessert. You will still be able to indulge in small servings of your favorite sweets on special occasions. You can also limit other carbohydrate-heavy foods in your meal to accommodate the increase that you get from eating these sweets.
Regular Exercise
Get regular exercise. Regular exercise will contribute to the stabilizing of blood sugar levels. Exercise is recommended for anyone suffering with diabetes.
It is important to not rely solely on the urine ketone test for checking your blood sugar. Higher ketone levels in your urine only indicate that your ketones are higher than 200mg/dl. To get around this problem, the ADA suggests that testing methods with high accuracy, such as test strips and finger sticking, be used.
If you’re a diabetic, it is important to keep your insulin in an insulated bag if you are going away for a while. You want to make sure that your insulin stays at the correct medium temperature. Using an insulated bad will protect you insulin from extreme hot or cold temperatures.
Clinical studies have proven that blood sugar levels are lowered by exercise, while sensitivity to insulin is heightened. Exercise is a healthy way to manage the levels of blood sugar. Vary your workout. Incorporate aerobic exercise and strength training.
Diabetics have an increased risk of developing gum disease. Because of this, it is vital to make sure you exercise good dental hygiene. Make it a daily routine to brush after meals and floss at night at a minimum.
Skipping meals could cause your blood glucose level to rise because your liver will release glucose to fuel your body when you are not taking in adequate nourishment. To keep glucose levels stable, eat regular meals and snacks that contain carbohydrates.
If you have diabetes or if you want to prevent it, try more physical activity. Doing this will help you slim down, and will also make your body more sensitive to insulin, which will give you lower blood sugar. It is in your best interest to remain as active as possible if you want to stay in control of your condition.
As mentioned earlier, you should not fear diabetes if you have taken the time to learn all you can about it. If you implement the information from this article, you’ll soon realize that the best weapon available to improve your health is knowledge.