Some people think their lives will be tremendously affected because they have diabetes. These tips will help you educated yourself about managing your diabetes in a functional way so you can live normally. Following these guidelines is a decision that you’ll have to make.
Exercise is a key lifestyle habit for a diabetic person. You need to get moving as much as possible to help keep your weight at a reasonable level and your organs in tip-top shape. Try to go for a long walk after dinner or take the stairs at work instead of the elevator.
Do you know what your A1C is? If you’re Diabetic, you should know it along with your weight. This number indicates how well you’ve been controlling your blood sugar over the long-term, which will tell you if you need to be checking your fasting blood glucose levels more often to see what’s going on.
Restaurants tend to serve you HUGE portions, so be prepared before they even bring your meal! Bring your own reusable container, or ask the waiter for a doggy bag up front, and then put away the parts of your meal which are going to be too much for you. Getting rid of it before you eat will curb your temptation to finish it all.
Simplify your life with organization and routine. Keep your testing supplies and medications in one place, and make sure you leave them there after you finish your routine. Make sure you routinely do everything you’re supposed to when testing.
It is important for diabetics to learn to eat a healthy diet and control portion sizes. Eating excessively large portions is a sure way to gain weight. Eating too much, even of foods that are good for you, will result in weight gain and blood sugar problems. Use smaller plates, put your utensils down between bites and eat slower.
A great way to manage diabetes naturally, without having to rely on medications is to get plenty of exercise. By exercising regularly, you will burn calories, which will result in a healthy weight. Exercising will also help your body respond to insulin, which is key to controlling diabetes. Exercise also helps improve your body’s circulation, which is another issue that diabetics usually face. Overall, exercise is an important factor in controlling diabetes.
To avoid developing a life-threatening infection, avoid going barefoot outdoors. People with diabetes are much more susceptible to developing infections from minor injuries and simply cutting your foot on a piece of glass could become a major ordeal. Instead, try wearing lightweight, waterproof shoes when you’re going outside in warm weather.
Depression can have a devastating effect on diabetes patients and should be dealt with. If you notice your loved one is acting or feeling sad or depressed, encourage him or her to see a doctor for treatment. Also suggest a support group for diabetics to find the help and emotional support of others in the same position.
Make sure to go to your podiatrist often if you have Diabetes to get routine foot check-ups. Your feet are susceptible to peripheral neuropathy and infection, so having them looked over will ensure you don’t end up with them being amputated. It only takes a small amount of time to ensure your feet are healthy, so do it!
Use resources like the internet to find diabetic recipes. Many diabetics get frustrated because they cannot find recipes for meals that are diabetic friendly. There are many substitutions to foods that taste just as good as the original including sugar-free chocolates, healthy kinds of pasta, sugar-free ice creams and cakes.
Lose weight. Bringing your weight down is not just a casual option; bringing down weight will result in more stable blood sugar levels and less damage. Eat a healthy diet and exercise so that you can drop some weight and help your condition. Some obese diabetics who lose weight find they are no longer diabetic.
To make sure each meal you eat is balanced, divide your plate into sections. Devote half your plate to vegetables that are low in starch. Fill one quarter of the plate with healthy carbohydrates and the remaining quarter with a lean protein. This will make sure that your body gets everything it needs, keeping your diabetes in check.
If you have diabetes, it can be difficult to go out to eat. Research menus ahead of time so that you can plan your meal. If a menu is not available online, you can stop by the restaurant ahead of time and ask for a copy, or you can call and have it read to you by phone. Knowing what the restaurant serves will help you to become more prepared for how you can eat healthy at the restaurant.
Make sure that if you are diabetic and you are going to be traveling by airplane, that you drink a lot of water. The cabin’s air is a lot drier than normal air is and it can cause thirst, especially in those that have diabetes. You should be able to pass through airport security with water bottles if you can prove that you have diabetes.
If you have diabetes, a great tip is to make sure you get a proper amount of sleep. If your amount of sleep is poor, it can mess with your hormones and lead to an increased appetite and elevated blood sugar. Research has shown that just one night of poor sleep can increase your insulin sensitivity by up to 25 percent. So make sure you get some sleep.
People who suffer from diabetes should consult their doctor as to whether or not it is safe to drink alcohol. Alcohol has been shown to lower blood glucose, but it can do so in an unpredictable manner so it may not always be a safe product to use. Make sure you speak with a health professional to see if it is something that can have a pronounced effect on you.
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.