A diabetes diagnosis can be overwhelming, and it’s easy to feel trapped. However, this article will give you some ideas on how to deal with diabetes. Go by these instructions to improve your results.
Certain foods have been assigned a glycemic index rating that reflects how they will have an impact on your blood sugar levels. The lower a food’s GI number is, the safer it is for a diabetic to consume.
Grab a handful of almonds to curb your hunger cravings while not upsetting your diabetic blood sugar levels. Almonds without salt are quite nutritious, because of the protein and other good things in them. Keep a bowl by the couch so you can grab some for a snack while you watch TV.
You can eat various protein foods, like beans, tofu, eggs, and dairy. Change it up often to give your mouth a treat.
Develop a “testing ritual” that you follow every time you test your blood sugar. Keep all of your equipment in the same spot at home and at work, so that you always know where to find your treatments in an emergency. Get into a routine every day to do the test and then record the levels into your log.
Many people suffer from diabetes. When you don’t force yourself to hide, you will take steps to fight the shame and stigma sometimes associated with diabetes.
Sleep Apnea
You should test yourself for sleep apnea if you suffer from diabetes. If sleep apnea is a problem for you, then get treatment now, before it has a chance to impact your health.
Many items on store shelves have this ingredient, so make sure you’re choosing products without it before you put them in your cart. Most soda drinks contain high fructose corn syrup, but so does ketchup, so check the labels. Watch out for “glucose/fructose” too; this is the Canadian term for the same ingredient.
If you are hypoglycemic, you should always have gum or some other type of sugary food handy. Stay prepared for the advent of a hypoglycemic attack, as they can take place out of nowhere. If you didn’t eat breakfast then this is especially true, as skipping meals will make your body crave sugar.
Go to your doctor immediately if you notice anything wrong with your vision. Diabetes can lead to many eye problems, including diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Cataracts can also be an issue. This can eventually lead to blindness if you do not take care of these issues.
Gestational Diabetes
If your baby is exposed to your gestational diabetes, he might be born with diabetes or develop it when he is older. Taking care of your gestational diabetes protects your child from juvenile diabetes.
If you have diabetes and you smoke, try to stop smoking. Smoking is harmful to your blood sugar levels, as well as its other harmful effects to you and others. Consult your physician about available methods for terminating your smoking habit.
Most diabetics need to take fast acting insulin a few minutes before eating. Check with your doctor to make sure this applies to you. This insulin helps your blood sugar stay at a proper level when it is used properly. But it needs to be dosed and timed out properly.
Give yourself a constant reminder of why taking care of your diabetes is so important. Remind yourself of life’s enjoyments, what is stopping you from enjoying those things, and how you can work around those blocks. Maintain focus on the things you love so that you can be strong and continue to manage your disease.
As unhealthy as smoking is to a healthy person, it is even more dangerous for diabetics. When you do this you open doors to more unhealthy habits and effects on your body. Smoking makes a person’s insulin resistant, so the risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes increases if you’re not diabetic to begin with.
Blood Sugar
Keep in mind that even though gestational diabetes may go away after childbirth, you should still check your blood sugar regularly for any abnormalities. It is often assumed to be impossible to continue to have problems with blood sugar regulation after birth, but unfortunately this is not the case.
Don’t use urine tests as your primary measure of how your blood sugar is doing. While this type of testing can show you if your urine has high ketone levels, that only lets you know your blood glucose levels are over 200 milligrams for each deciliter. To get around this problem, the ADA suggests that testing methods with high accuracy, such as test strips and finger sticking, be used.
People with diabetes are likely to have other undiagnosed health problems, such as a serious sleep apnea condition. Sleep apnea actually causes your breath to stop while sleeping. If you feel sleepy during the day, as if you didn’t sleep at all during the night, see your doctor about sleep apnea.
Diabetics are susceptible to numerous foot problems. Caring for your feet and being alert to any changes in their feeling and function is very important in avoiding serious consequences, the most severe being amputation. Following these guidelines can help keep your feet healthy even with diabetes.
Of course there is always new information about diabetes, and you should keep studying; however, these tips should give you a solid basis. The tips suggested here can be implemented into a variety of lifestyles, and perhaps you have already thought of ways to incorporate them into your life. You will soon see results that will motivate you to make more changes.