If you have diabetes, you know this disease affects every aspect of your life. You can reduce the impact this disease has on your life, as well as the severity of your symptoms, when you possess the knowledge to effectively manage it. Use these tips to better manage your diabetes with a few simple changes.
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.
Want a tasty treat that won’t be forbidden by your doctor due to your Diabetes? Try nachos! Use a low fat cheese, low fat sour cream, homemade guacamole, and salsa, and you’ll be getting a ton of nutrition with a burst of flavor. If you add some beans to the salsa you’ll have an even healthier snack!
Find a diabetic friend to support you through your journey with diabetes. You’ll be able to swap ideas, share recipes and just have a shoulder to cry on when things get stressful. You can even give them a call when you’re having a craving and they’ll talk you through it! Friends can keep you sane and that’s especially true, if they’re going through the same hardship that you are.
It is possible to lower your blood sugar with exercise, so give it a try and see what it does for you. Make sure to test yourself immediately after you exercise to make sure your blood sugar has gone down to a level that is tolerable, otherwise you’ll have to take your insulin.
If you have a family history of diabetes, prevention is very important. A great way to prevent diabetes is to increase your intake of fiber. Foods that are high in fiber include fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains and nuts. Foods high in fiber increase your blood sugar control ability, which in turn reduces your chances of getting diabetes. Filling your plate up with foods high in fiber is an important way to prevent diabetes.
Get familiar with the glycemic index rating of foods to help gain better control of your diabetes. It is important to learn to recognize high glycemic foods like breads, fruit juices, cereals, pasta and rice. Eating more vegetables, lean proteins and other low glycemic index foods keeps your blood sugar from spiking after meals.
To spot foods that may be an issue for you, keep track of what you eat in a log alongside of your glucose levels. After a while, you’ll be able to notice the effect that certain foods have on you. This is a much better way to spot problematic foods than an elimination diet, and can also show you what foods benefit your health.
Choosing the right blood glucose monitor is an investment in your health, and as such, you should avoid using price as the deciding factor in your purchase. If you are tech-savvy, you might do well with a monitor that has online tracking capabilities and storage functions. If you have dexterity problems, look for monitors with easy-to-handle strips and operation.
Get educated about your condition. The more information you have about diabetes, the better you are equipped to handle it. By educating yourself more, you can in turn educate others including family members and friends. They may not be sure how to handle diabetes and aren’t sure about how they may be able to help you one day.
You must consider fruit and high-glycemic index vegetables very carefully when planning a diet for Diabetes. Many fruits contain a LOT of sugar, which can affect your blood glucose adversely. Vegetables can cause the same problems, especially in juice form, including carrots, peas, and corn. Try to stick to low GI items like broccoli or apples which are rich in fiber.
Monitor your blood sugar at the same time every day. This helps you to know your body and to better anticipate any change of schedule or any problem. In addition, you can better control your intake of sugar, if you know what your blood level is. Monitoring times should be as regularly as you like.
Look for high-fiber foods. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to eliminate breads and pastas from your diet. The problem is that most breads and pastas are made with refined carbohydrates ” making them high glycemic foods that you should avoid. These processed carbohydrates cause dangerous spikes in blood sugar. Instead, look for whole-grain varieties. You can find whole-grain breads and pastas right alongside their refined counterparts in the grocery stores. These carbohydrates are high in dietary fiber, which means your body takes longer to break them down ” and there is no sugar spike.
Diabetics should strive to eat the same amounts of food each day. This can help ensure many things are healthy in your body. Your blood sugar will not be able to stay healthy if you don’t eat the same amounts of food each day and eat during different times. Make every effort to eat the same amounts of food every day during the same times to ensure your blood sugar remains healthy as a diabetic.
Diabetes can cause blood circulation problems. It is important that if you have any healing wounds or are currently recovering from an infection that you seek medical assistance. Avoiding injuries is the best way to avoid blood circulation problems as a diabetic, but if you do get injured, wash the wound thoroughly and seek medical assistance.
See? These tips are easy to understand and easy to implement into your life. By doing so, you are sure to enjoy a life where diabetes does not have as much of a detrimental impact, and one where your symptoms are fewer and less severe. Overall, these tips improve your quality of life as a diabetic.
