Diabetes is a medical condition that has become more common throughout the world. A lot of people are diagnosed to have it each day. This discussion will help you deal with your new lifestyle as you adjust to having been diagnosed with diabetes.
Every food has a glycemic index, which is a number that shows how great of an effect that food will have on blood sugar levels, based on its ingredients. Remember, the lower the GI number, the better for a diabetic!
To satisfy your hunger without throwing off your blood glucose levels, snack on almonds. Unsalted almonds are not only very healthy, but they contain protein, fiber and other essential nutrients. When you are craving a snack in the evening, keep a bowl in the living room so you can munch on them while you watch television.
Many grocery store items contain this ingredient, so become label conscious. If you find HFCS on the label, pick something else. In Canada, high fructose corn syrup appears as “glucose/fructose”.
Have gum and sugary food on your body at all times if you have hypoglycemia. As these attacks can occur at any time, it is very important to be ready for it. It is particularly important to have some form of sugar with you if you tend to skip breakfast, because your body will have increased cravings.
Blood Sugar
Educate yourself so that you know which foods are most likely to cause your blood sugar to spike. Avoid carbohydrates with elevated glycemic indexes like bread, cereal and pasta. Processed foods can also have a very detrimental effect on your blood sugar. Choose better foods, including fruits that are fresh and vegetables that are not canned, as well as seafood and meats.
It can be difficult for diabetics to resist snacking on unhealthy foods. But, it is quite important that unhealthy snacks are passed over for fruit or vegetables.
If you are afflicted with diabetes, six smaller meals can be better than three traditional ones each day. This will help you stay in control of your blood sugar levels. You will be more satiated and less likely to binge if your eating is more frequent.
Keep in mind the advantages to managing your diabetes effectively. Take a moment to consider how diabetes may be limiting you from doing what you love. Then, remember that there are ways to manage this chronic illness, and that there is hope yet to do these things again. Make sure you remain focused on what is important, and use this as a motivational tool.
If you are suffering from diabetes, a good thing to add to foods to spice it up is cinnamon. Cinnamon can make foods sweeter without adding sugar. Some researchers believe cinnamon can lower blood glucose levels.
Whether you feel like eating or not, you must continue to eat properly and monitor blood glucose levels. Long periods of low sugar levels will make you dehydrated, so water and fluids are key at this time.
Keep checking your blood sugar after giving birth. While gestational diabetes usually resolves with delivery of your baby, you want to make sure you don’t continue to have problems with your blood sugar level. People believe that after you give birth, your issues with blood sugar levels magically disappear, but sadly that is not true.
Egg Whites
If you have diabetes, eating egg whites for breakfast is a great option. Egg whites are low in calories and fat, and are full of the protein your body needs to start the day. Try an omelet made of egg whites, or have scrambled eggs and ham.
Make sure to pack up an insulated bag for your insulin whenever you travel. Insulin should be protected from extreme temperatures. An insulated bag is your best bet for keeping it at the right temperature.
Sleep apnea can often be overlooked in those with diabetes. In fact, those with diabetes often have many issues go unnoticed. This causes you to cease breathing when you sleep. Sleep apnea may be what is affecting you, if you find yourself unexplainably tired throughout the day.
If you have diabetes, make sure to eat plenty of healthy carbohydrates during the day. Diets that are low in carbs can actually be detrimental to many with diabetes, because they prevent the body from getting the essential nutrients it requires. When you have the proper amount of carbohydrates in your diet, it ensures you body has the energy it needs.
If you skip meals, your sugar levels are going to increase because your liver releases glucose to sustain the fuel your body needs when you aren’t consuming adequate nutrition. To keep glucose levels stable, eat regular meals and snacks that contain carbohydrates.
Be sure to put a few bags of items you can use to help you treat a high or a low scattered around the house so it could be available within a moments notice. Do not forget to include meter hooks, insulin and syringes in these bags.
Ketoacidosis Occurs
Be sure to understand how ketoacidosis occurs. Ketoacidosis occurs when your blood sugar is high, causing acid in your blood to increase. This results in an influx of ketones which causes levels of acid in the blood to proportionally rise. It’s really dangerous and could lead to a coma. Some warning signs of this are sweet smelling breath, uncontrollable thirst, and confusion. These symptoms can be remedied by taking insulin coupled with increased hydration levels. To prevent this from happening, blood sugar levels should be monitored regularly, take your prescribed dosage of insulin and develop a keen awareness of the signs and symptoms of ketoacidosis.
Being diagnosed with diabetes is not a death sentence, there are ways to manage the disease. Use the tips in this article to put together a recovery plan.
