Fortunately, we know enough about diabetes today to know that this disease is no longer a death sentence. With the right information on your side, you can fight diabetes naturally and live a healthy, normal lifestyle. Here are a few tips you can use to keep your diabetes under control.
If you need to sweeten your tea or coffee, but you have Diabetes, try using more natural sweeteners like honey or a sweetener and sugar substitute. These sweetener and sugar substitute can be found at many grocery stores today and is a plant extract, which is very sweet. It can even be found in a powdered form which mimics real sugar.
Every type of food has a number that states its effects on blood sugar. This number is called the “glycemic index”. Low glycemic index numbers are the best ones for people who suffer from diabetes.
Test your sugar regularly, and track the results. Keeping a log book of your sugar levels will help you and your doctor decide if your medication and diet plan are working to control your sugar. You can save money by sharing a glucometer with a family member or friend, so long as you do not share lancets.
Pay attention to the feeling in your feet and hands by testing them once in a while. Go barefoot on the floor and see if you can feel the grout between the tiles. When you’re in the shower, drop something and step on it so you can see how well you feel it. Do the same when holding a pencil or pen. If you feel any loss of sensation, go to your doctor and let them know!
There is no treatment in the world that is as effective at controlling Diabetes as a good laugh! It lowers your stress levels, makes you FEEL good, and can give you a bit of exercise to boot. Laughter is known to cause great relief in many different conditions, so give it a try.
When you are getting a pedicure be sure to be very careful if you have been diagnosed with diabetic. Foot infections are common in diabetics and therefore if you should puncture your foot, care should be taken.
Many grocery store items contain this ingredient, so become label conscious. If you find HFCS on the label, pick something else. In other countries this ingredient might be labeled as glucose/fructose.
Find a free clinic in your area to have your Diabetes monitored if you can’t afford to visit your doctor every three months. You can call your local Diabetes association, ask at a local hospital, or inquire through your Health Department, to find out where the closest clinic is to you.
A diet too high in protein can actually be harmful to diabetics. Some people think more protein is good, but studies have shown that too much animal protein can cause insulin-resistance, a factor in diabetes. Try to include proper amounts of protein, vegetables and carbohydrates to keep your diet healthy and well-balanced.
If you find yourself yawning more frequently than usual at a time of day in which you are ordinarily high-energy, low blood glucose levels may be the culprit. Take your blood sugar measurements to confirm whether or not this is the case; over time you should be able to identify your body’s standard responses to changes in glucose levels.
When a certain food allows it, add vinegar to it if you are a dietetic. Research has shown that vinegar inhibit starch digestion and allows food to stay in the stomach longer. In turn, this helps to reduce the chances of your blood glucose levels from rising after you have eaten a meal.
If you have diabetes, you should avoid changing your medication without first talking to your doctor. It can be dangerous to experiment because your blood sugar can drop dangerously low by doing this. Therefore, you need to talk to your doctor, and find out what options he or she suggests for you.
When you are a diabetic you should make sure you are eating as many whole foods as possible. When shopping you should always buy fresh fruits and vegetables and avoid buying too many processed foods that contain ingredients that are bad for your condition. Avoid getting any foods with too much sugar such as sweets or soda.
The number one way to ensure that you stay healthy, even though you have diabetes, is having a proper diet plan. Keep your disease under control by following a proper diabetic diet plan. There are many websites out there that are able to help you in developing a proper diet plan as well as finding the right doctor to work with you. Make sure to do your research and provide your body with enough nutrients to fight diabetes.
Watch the low-fat snacks. Some people believe that since a snack is low-fat, then the calories aren’t as high. This can cause you to overeat because you think these snacks are better for you. Low-fat snacks really don’t save that many calories. If you do eat them, consume as many of them as you would, a regular snack.
Use single serving bags for your snacks. Usually after one bag, you won’t eat more than that. Sometimes, the cost of single serving snacks can deter you away from buying them, but you can also buy them as you normally would and separate them into snack bags when you get home from the grocery store.
Avoid alcohol. Alcohol is a carbohydrate, breaking down very quickly into sugars, having a negative effect on your blood sugar levels. It acts in the same way as chocolate, quickly elevating the blood sugar and then quickly dropping it back down. This can cause symptoms such as weakness, dizziness and sweating. Alcohol can also result in dehydration, which in turn increases the concentration of sugar in the bloodstream. This can have an impact on the effectiveness of your insulin dosage.
While diabetes might not be a death sentence, it still has to be managed properly. A failure to take care of yourself while you have diabetes will do nothing but invite those problems. Once these problems rear their ugly head, there’s no going back. Don’t allow the complications to settle in; use the tips you’ve learned above to control diabetes.
