Believe it or not, diabetes can strike at any time and it doesn’t rightly matter if you’re living a preventative lifestyle. You can still contract the disease. If you have diabetes, it’s high time you started learning about how to tame the disease.
Checking out international foods is an excellent way of finding new recipes that you’ll actually enjoy eating, even though they’re good for you and your Diabetes. I’d highly recommend trying Tabouleh, a Middle Eastern dish made with herbs, onions, lemon juice, and bulgur. It’s extremely good mixed with hummus and served on a pita!
If you’re Diabetic, don’t overeat simply because your sugar is low. A single pack of sugary candy or a glucose tab is a much safer and more controlled method of bringing your sugar level back up. If you overeat in reaction to a low, you’re likely to spike your sugar instead of bringing it back to normal.
Diabetics should beware of caffeine as it can lead to potentially life-threatening blood pressure. Diabetes already has harmful effects on your organs, high blood pressure included, so you don’t want to tax your body any more than it already is. Caffeine can lead in a massive spike in blood pressure after ingesting it, so just stay away from it completely.
Make sure to take your diabetes medications exactly as directed. You are NOT a doctor, nor is anyone else giving you advice other than your physician. They tell you how often to take your prescriptions and how much you should take at a time because they know, so follow their directions.
You will find it in soda, condiments and candies, and therefore, it is important to study labels in order to avoid harmful items. “Glucose/fructose” is how this product is labeled in Canada.
Walmart and Costco both provide prescriptions at a discounted cost which can save you a lot of money on your Diabetes medications. They also have Diabetic supplies like monitors, lancets, test strips and syringes and they’re carried in bulk at Costco. You can also find pamphlets at both pharmacies with information on Diabetes.
If you live close to the Canadian border and drive, consider going to Canada to pick up your Diabetes prescriptions. The Canadian government regulates the sale of prescriptions so that they can’t have huge fees added to their cost. Often you can get the exact same medications for a huge discount, and they’re safe to take as they’re under the same or even stricter health regulations.
To tackle your diabetes head-on, assemble a medical team. In addition to your primary care provider, you should see other doctors like a ophthalmologist, an ophthalmologist, and even a registered dietitian. Make sure your team communicates with one another so that you can get the best possible care. If you’re concerned your insurance won’t cover other types of doctors, ask your general practitioner to give you a referral.
In addition to eating healthy foods, you should also remember to eat food regularly. Instead of eating huge meals two or three times a day like most people do, eat smaller meals spaced out through the day. Doing so will keep your blood sugar at normal levels and regulate hunger.
To better maintain your blood sugars, drink only water. Most other beverages are high in sugar, and diet soda can lead to dehydration, which can also cause your blood sugar levels to spike. Carrying around bottled water and drinking it regularly will help you keep your blood sugar levels where they’re supposed to be.
If you are feeling symptoms of depression, consult with your physician. If you become depressed it will have a severe impact on how you are managing your diabetes. You will lose interest in food, have a lower activity level and increase your stress levels. Targeting these symptoms early can avoid unwanted complications later.
If your doctor approaches you about starting to take insulin, do not respond negatively without first listening to the reasoning of a medical professional. While you may know someone who developed complications from taking insulin, understand that the complications from allowing diabetes to go unchecked can be significantly more damaging, even life-threatening.
Get moving. Staying active can help reduce your risk for diabetes, and can help control the disease after diagnosis. An hour long walk every day is enough to make a significant impact. You can also increase your walking in everyday activities to boost the amount of exercise you get. Park farther from the store in the parking lot, and do an extra lap around the mall when you are out shopping.
Taking care of your teeth is extremely important when you have diabetes. When you have high levels of glucose in your system, you will also have that in your saliva which will bring about tooth decay. When you have diabetes, it is harder for you to fight any type of infection, so if you get gum disease it will be more serious than if a healthy person develops it.
For effective diabetes control through diet, regulate the amount of food you eat. Avoiding overeating keeps your blood sugar from skyrocketing and causing problems, because the amount of food you eat affects how much sugar is in your blood. Don’t eat too little, either, though, because that kind of imbalance can also cause illness.
When you have diabetes, foot problems are always a concern. Always make sure you are wearing the correct shoes so that you do not develop any of these problems. Shoes with proper ventilation are essential. The more air that gets to your feet the better circulation you will get. Sandals are important for summer weather.
Although it’s too late to prevent diabetes now, it’s not too late to take the steps necessary to rise above this disease. Learning how to deal with your diabetes is only half of the battle here. The onus is now on you to put a plan together in order to fight this disease.