Do you know how to alter your lifestyle to manage diabetes? Read this article to find out how you can adapt your daily life to stay in control of your condition.
To satisfy your hunger without throwing off your blood glucose levels, snack on almonds. Unsalted almonds contain a lot of protein, fiber, and other nutrients that are great for your body. Stash some by your TV for a healthy snack while you’re watching your favorite show!
Develop a “testing ritual” that you follow every time you test your blood sugar. For instance, keep your meter, journal, and insulin in one specific place so it will be easy to access in the mornings. When testing, keep track of it as a routine so that you don’t forget any steps. Also, try to jot down your numbers.
Put some walnuts in your salad to add some extra nutrition. Walnuts are rich in monosaturated fats, which can help you manage your diabetes by improving the way the cells in your body process insulin. Walnuts also contain antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and omega-3’s; they will increase your energy and they are delicious.
Sleep Apnea
People with diabetes are at high risk for sleep apnea, so get tested right away. If sleep apnea is diagnosed and treated quickly, it won’t have a chance to negatively affect your health.
Introduce more fiber into your diet so you can lower your risk of developing diabetes. This is a good way to replace high glycemic foods, such as white bread or processed foods by 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 suffer from hypoglycemia, it is important that you carry gum or another sugary food with you at all times. You have to be prepared, because a hypoglycemia attack can happen anywhere or any time. If you have skipped breakfast, this is definitely true because your blood sugar will already be low.
Talk to a doctor when you are concerned that you have gestational diabetes. If you do not get in front of this condition, you are risking both the health of you and your child. Your doctor may prescribe certain medications that are safe to take during pregnancy, and he can also advise you of what to eat.
Diabetics should eat modest portions, more often — as often as six times a day, instead of three. By eating on a more regular basis, your blood sugar will be a lot more stable. These meals will also keep you from getting over-hungry and indulging.
This can lead to your offspring having a better chance of getting diabetes in his future. Taking care of your gestational diabetes protects your child from juvenile diabetes.
Take your insulin as directed by your doctor. In general, you should take insulin no more than 15 minutes before you eat. An option for maintaining blood sugar levels is fast-acting insulin. However, it has to be carefully dosed and timed dependent on the individual.
Glucose Levels
One seasoning that’s great for diabetics is cinnamon. It won’t add calories, sodium, or sugar to your dishes, but it will add flavor. Cinnamon brings out the natural sweetness in certain foods without the added sugar that can raise blood glucose levels. Some studies indicate cinnamon actually lowers glucose levels while others do not, but it is a good spice to use anyway.
Alter each of your favorite foods or meals instead of crossing them off your list. One of the hardest things for diabetics to do is to follow a restricted diet. Most people believe that they need to get rid of a lot of the foods they love to eat. Others tend to ignore the diet and eat their favorite foods anyway. Instead of tempting fate, a smarter idea is to think about your favorite foods and make healthy substitutions wherever you can. Lots of foods are diabetes-friendly if healthy alternatives are substituted for problem ingredients.
Diabetics often have other undetected health issues, and one more serious issue is sleep apnea. This condition causes you to stop breathing while you sleep. If you notice that you are extra sleepy during the day, talk to your doctor about running some tests to see if you have sleep apnea.
People who have diabetes should include healthy, complex carbohydrates in their diet. Diets that are low in carbs can actually be detrimental to many with diabetes, because they prevent the body from getting the essential nutrients it requires. If you have enough carbohydrates in your diet, you will also have enough energy.
Be extra vigilant about your dental hygiene when you’re dealing with diabetes, because the condition puts you at greater risk for gum disease. You should floss daily and brush your teeth several times throughout the day.
Not eating meals could increase blood glucose level because the liver will respond by increasing glucose when malnourished. By making sure your meals are constant, while having snacks that contain carbohydrates, then the glucose released will be reduced.
Get more exercise if you are diabetic or pre-diabetic. This will help you lose weight and also lower your blood sugar level by making you more sensitive to insulin. A person with diabetes must remain active and avoid leading a sedentary life.
Keep your stress levels low. Diabetics may experience elevated blood glucose levels, especially when they feel upset or stressed. Try some different ways to relax and calm yourself, yoga or meditation is a great tool. In addition, there are a number of breathing exercises that you can teach yourself. Since you can do them anywhere, they are ideal.
You will find a wealth of information out there pertaining to diabetes, but only accurate information will benefit you. It can seem like a dark period, until you take the necessary steps to improve it. Use your knowledge efficiently and adopt better habits.