If you do not care for your diabetes the best you can, it will hurt you very much in the larger picture of your life. However, you need to make sure you have the information that is best for your body and body systems. This article will provide you with this information, so read on!
If your child is diagnosed with Diabetes, make keeping track of their blood sugar fun. Have a contest where they get a reward for doing their blood sugar on time every day for a certain number of days, like a trip to the toy store or an hour at the park.
If you feel you’re not getting adequate care from your doctor, find a new one! Feeling less than comfortable with a health care professional can lead you to question their diagnosis or treatment, meaning you can’t trust them. Find a new doctor that you have full faith in to ensure a healthy doctor-patient relationship.
If you suffer from diabetes it is absolutely critical that you monitor the amount of alcohol you drink. Cutting back on alcohol consumption is one of the best things a diabetic can do to improve their health. Alcohol is loaded with empty calories and fast acting carbohydrates. These fast acting carbohydrates quickly raise blood sugar levels in the body and this, in turn, can lead to type II diabetes complications.
Skip the sauces and go for spices to lose weight and keep your Diabetes under control. Spices add a ton of flavor to any food without adding sugar, carbohydrates, or fat, so call on them when you’re cooking. Even a salad can be made zippier with simple vinegar, oil, and a handful of rosemary and oregano!
If you suffer from diabetes, proceed with caution when receiving a pedicure. Diabetics are prone to bad foot infections, therefore you need to be especially careful of any cut or puncture you receive there.
Swapping items in your diet for healthier options will help you keep your Diabetes under control. For example, stop eating red meats and replace them with fish or poultry. A few nights a week you can even have a vegetarian meal and replace the meat entirely with beans or lentils. Remove the high fat dairy and instead buy lower fat options. Replace sugary or salty snacks with nuts or seeds.
Make sure to visit the doctor if you have any of the risk factors involved with getting diabetes. Make an appointment as soon as possible if you are overweight, over the age of 45, have a very inactive lifestyle, or you have family with diabetes. The sooner you get the tested, the better chances you will have in catching the ailment early.
Even if you are not feeling any symptoms, it is important that you check your blood sugar levels every few hours. People think that because they feel fine, their sugar levels are stabilized and this is not always true. It is the silent symptoms that could land you in the hospital.
If you’re feeling burned out by your diabetes care don’t brush your feelings aside! Ignoring your emotions can lead to you slipping in your care, which can in turn lead to more serious health problems. If you’re stressed it will also be more difficult to keep your blood sugar levels stable. Talk to your doctor when you’re feeling overwhelmed, and work together to find a way to simplify your diabetes management.
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.
Check your blood sugar levels regularly. It is possible to have dangerously high or low blood sugar without showing any symptoms. Having a persistently high blood sugar count can cause you to have an increased risk of developing kidney failure, circulation problems, heart disease stroke, and even blindness. Make sure you keep a record of your numbers as well, to watch for trends and sugar spikes.
Making the switch to high fiber foods will help lower your risk for diabetes. Try to eat only whole grains, they are packed with fiber that allows your body to digest foods without getting a spike in blood sugar which is what happens when you eat mostly refined carbs (white bread and any type of processed foods).
If you are diabetic, you need to be taking extra good care of your feet. More than half of all foot amputations are related to diabetes. Make sure you are cleaning them well, and not putting any extra strain on your feet. That means not standing for long periods of time, or doing anything to strenuous.
Individuals who have been diagnosed with IGT, or impaired glucose tolerance, should be especially vigilant in monitoring their lifestyle changes, including dietary, exercise, and activities. Losing weight and increasing your exercise routine can significantly lower your chances of progressing from impaired glucose tolerance to full-blown diabetes, therefore prolonging and enhancing your life.
When it comes to dealing with diabetes be sure that you organize any questions or comments that you have for a professional before meeting with them. This is important to make sure that your visit goes smoothly and to ensure that you get answers to all that you have questions about.
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.
Without the proper care of your body when you have diabetes, you are just traveling down a road that can’t take you back from where you came. Now that you have read this article and gotten the information you need to keep you from going down that road in the first place, make sure you are taking care of yourself.