Diabetes is a disease that is linked with obesity and currently proliferating in our society. We need to learn more about it, in order to stave off this epidemic that is causing so much suffering, disability and financial loss. Here are tips to help you understand diabetes and how to avoid it or deal with it if you have it.
Call your insurance company after you are diagnosed with Diabetes to see if they offer any assistance to help you get it under control. Health insurance providers want you to file as few claims as possible, so getting your Diabetes in check will save them money. Often they will offer you services that wouldn’t be covered otherwise, so call and find out!
If your doctor tells you that your Diabetes pills aren’t doing enough to keep your blood glucose levels in check, don’t panic. You won’t necessarily have to use needles as insulin pens are now available that give you the dose you need without being painful. If you can’t afford these pens, some pharmaceuticals have programs to assist you like Needy Meds.
Unlike breastfeeding, no one cares if you shoot up your insulin at the table. Really! Don’t hide away in a bathroom or closet, come clean with your diagnosis and have your family and friends share in your recovery. The more they know, the more they can support you when you need them.
To make sure your blood sugar levels don’t spike or plummet without you realizing it, check your blood sugar regularly and log the results. It’s very common for people to experience dramatic changes in their blood sugar with no initial symptoms. Carefully tracking your levels will help you avoid serious health problems like kidney failure or strokes.
Baking your own bread, canning your own vegetables, and even grinding your own flour is far more healthy than purchasing it at a store. You’ll also save a ton of money, and you’ll know what is going into the foods you eat. A diabetic has to be careful about every ingredient, and if YOU measured and put them all in there, it will make keeping track easy!
Anyone with diabetes must exercise to stay in good health. Exercise helps strengthen the cardiovascular system and helps to increase the circulation to the arms and legs. It also helps to control blood sugar levels. The best forms of exercise for someone with diabetes is jogging, swimming, walking, and rowing.
Though this may seem like common knowledge for anyone who has ever taken medicine, many people for get to do it. As a Diabetic, you should always remember to take your medication! Only take medication prescribed by your doctor and only at interval that are safely prescribed for you.
To decrease the effect sugars and carbohydrates have on your body, consume plenty of fiber. Fiber works as a sort of natural buffer that will help keep your blood sugar down even when you’ve eaten things that normally make it spike. If you’ve eaten something you shouldn’t, a quick fiber rich snack can help counteract its effects.
To save you and your doctor time, write down all of your questions about your diabetes. This way you will be prepared ahead of time and will not forget to ask anything that is important. You are dealing with your health, so don’t be afraid to ask any question that you have.
Clean out your pantry and fridge of all processed foods as well as foods high in sugar and trans fats. Eating trans fats and any food that has partially hydrogenated oils will increase your belly fat and put you at a higher risk for getting diabetes. These foods are not good for anyone to be eating, so it is best to toss them.
Stop smoking. Aside from the well-documented lung cancer risks, smoking is of extra concern for diabetics. Diabetes and smoking both put you at an increased risk for heart disease, nerve damage, and kidney problems. Smoking also causes a rise in blood sugar. Either risk alone is enough for concern, but a diabetic who smokes is at a much higher risk of developing problems.
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.
Diabetes affects your risk of heart disease, so to lower this risk, consider taking an aspirin every day. Diabetics are at higher risk of heart disease because the platelets in their blood may tend to form clumps more easily, which can lead to heart attacks. Aspirin can counter this risk. Ask your doctor if you should add aspirin to your daily treatment routine, since you should avoid aspirin if you have conditions like bleeding ulcers.
If you are a diabetic, consider seeking the help of a nutritionist. A nutritionist is able to help you with problems as such as: what to eat, what you can’t eat, what diets to follow and what to eat as a bedtime snack. Nutritionists also provide assistance in answering questions you may have.
If you are a diabetic considering running as an exercise alternative to walking make sure that you consult your doctor first. It is important to ensure that running won’t make you develop orthopedic or cardiovascular problems. Your doctor will be able to help point you in the right direction to guarantee safe running with your diabetes.
If you have Diabetes, journal your eating habits and blood sugar levels. Do this every day, for every meal. The information contained in your journal can help to explain blood sugar spikes, or dips, throughout the day. It can also provide your physician with real life information that can be used for your on going treatment.
Now you have learned more about this disabling disease. These tips on diabetes, on warding it off or treating it, are very practical ones. We hope they will help you cope effectively with diabetes if you or a loved one has it, or help you avoid developing diabetes in the future.