Managing diabetes requires hard work and research. Not only will it require you to significantly change your diet, you must also monitor the disease and always perform maintenance. Although living with diabetes will never be easy, there are a number of things you can to improve the way you manage the disease. Here are some strategies and suggestions that you can use to manage and stay healthy while you deal with diabetes.
It will be hard if your child is diagnosed with diabetes but bear with it. These days, many people have diabetes, and treatments have improved so much that children with diabetes can live quite normally. The oldest person with diabetes is 90. He lived long enough to see new medical treatments.
Sleep Apnea
If you have diabetes, you should get a sleep apnea test as soon as possible. If you have sleep apnea, you should get it treated immediately to stay healthy.
Switch to a diet high in fiber in order to lower your risk of developing diabetes. By eating more whole wheat and grains and more fiber-rich foods in general, you will be reducing your overall intake of foods high on the glycemic index that are packed with sugar. This will definitely help decrease your risk of diabetes. There are many studies that show that people who eat whole grains, and low-GI foods in general, get diabetes less often than those who don’t.
There are many free ways to work exercise into your schedule which is great for controlling diabetes, such as jogging around your neighborhood or doing some work outs at the park nearby. Try chin ups at the jungle gym at the playground, or use cans and full fabric bags as makeshift weights you can lift.
If you suffer from diabetes and you have vision problems, you must discuss this with your doctor. Diabetes is associated with a number of eye problems, including cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Serious eye disorders that can lead to blindness are directly related to diabetes.
Sometimes when you’re a diabetic, and you are tempted to snack, it is hard to resist the goodies that surround you. It’s important though, to stay away from the unhealthy choices and eat fruits or vegetables, or another complex carbohydrate.
Replace your usual three meals with five or six smaller meals. Eating more frequently, but in smaller amounts, keeps your blood glucose levels more consistent. Eating more often also makes it less likely that you will binge, as you are likely to feel more satisfied.
Take your insulin exactly as prescribed by you physician. Fast-acting insulins are quite effective in maintaining blood sugar levels, but they must be provided in the proper dose and timing for each person.
If diabetes requires you to limit sugar or sodium, a terrific way to add flavor to your diet is to use cinnamon. Cinnamon can also accentuate the natural sweetness of some foods without adding sugar that may raise your blood glucose levels. Research is indeterminate in deciding whether or not cinnamon lowers blood sugar levels, but it’s still a great spice for your diabetic diet.
Alter your favorite foods instead of eliminating them. One of the big misconceptions about diabetes is that sufferers must follow a much stricter diet. Many people mistakenly think they have to stop eating many of their most loved foods. Others may continue to eat foods that negatively impact their health. A smart way to solve your problem is by substituting components in your favorite meals. Lots of foods are diabetes-friendly if healthy alternatives are substituted for problem ingredients.
Don’t use urine ketone body tests exclusively as a means of testing your blood sugar. Higher ketone levels in your urine only indicate that your ketones are higher than 200mg/dl. The American Diabetes Association recommends that diabetics use a finger stick and test strips. This provides a much accurate measurement for blood glucose levels.
Eating egg whites for breakfast is a wonderful idea for anyone suffering from diabetes. They don’t have much fat and are low-cal, and they will get you off to a great daily start with their protein. Make an omelet with them, or even scrambled eggs with some meat such as ham.
Insulated Bag
If you plan on traveling, pack your insulin in an insulated bag. This is important because your insulin must maintain a certain temperature. With an insulated bag, you ensure your insulin does not heat up or cool down too much.
Diabetics can benefits from including healthy carbohydrates in their daily diet. Avoid very low-carb diets, as they deprive your body of much needed nutrients like fiber, minerals and vitamins. Give yourself the stamina to keep going by ensuring you have a sufficient amount of carbohydrates in your diet.
Exercising naturally lowers blood sugar and improves insulin sensitivity, which is the healthiest way to control your blood sugar levels. To get the full benefits of exercise, alternate between aerobic and cardiovascular workouts.
Skipping meals will most likely cause your blood sugar levels to rise as your liver begins to release glucose in order to give your body energy. Eating regular meals, as well as having snacks with carbohydrates, will reduce the glucose being released.
You need to understand ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis means that there is too much acid in blood; this occurs when blood glucose levels have gotten too high. In return, this leads to ketones and high blood acid levels. This reaction is very dangerous for your health and can even lead to coma! Common symptoms of this are a fruit odor on the breath, confusion and extreme thirst. You can take insulin and improve your hydration to treat these symptoms. Prevent ketoacidosis by keeping track of your sugar levels, take insulin when you need it, and learn to recognize the symptoms.
When you have this condition, you have to care for your health and monitor what you eat. Use the advice included in the article above to cope with diabetes. Stop struggling with your diabetes, and start doing your best to make treating it a regular part of your life.
