Years ago, diabetes seemed like a very mysterious and sometimes terrifying disease. It almost seemed like a death sentence. You couldn’t eat any sugar and you would be tied to insulin injections for the rest of your life. However, as we have learned more about the disease there are many steps you can follow to make life with this disease much more livable. Check these hints out:
The number one thing to keep in mind when you’re diagnosed with Type II Diabetes is that it’s not the end of the world! You will be able to live a long, healthy life with this condition as long as you take the steps necessary to keep it under control.
Diabetics should never EVER skip a meal! If you’ve planned to eat, then you must eat, or else your medication can drop your blood sugar so low you end up getting very sick. At least have a drink of juice or milk and some of your food so that your body gets a boost of energy.
To keep your blood sugar levels from spiking, research high glycemic index foods. If you’re not knowledgeable about what ingredients you should avoid, you may consume something harmful without realizing it. If you need to eat something quickly and don’t have time to look it up, stick to non-processed foods.
If you have diabetes, it is important that you take care of your feet. Simple cuts can turn into infections for diabetics, which in turn can cause serious health problems, such as gangrene and even amputation. Check your feet daily and if you notice any cuts or other irregularities, see your doctor.
Find out if there are any public gardening areas near you where people grow their own produce. This is an excellent way for a Diabetic to get some exercise by doing weeding, watering, or planting new seedlings. Often you get to keep some of what you grow as well, giving you some wonderfully fresh and organic treats to enjoy when you get home!
If you have diabetes, you want to avoid overcooking your pasta. When your pasta is overcooked, it loses its form and releases glucose easier, which will elevate your blood sugar. You should aim to cook the pasta until it is fit to eat, but do not cook it anymore than that.
To make sure your family understands your needs, take the time to explain diabetes to them. Discussing your condition with them will give them valuable knowledge they can use to help you in a crisis. It will also make them aware of things they can do to help. You may even find that talking about your diabetes is very cathartic.
If you suffer from diabetes, a great spice you can add to your foods without adding calories, sugar or sodium to your diet, is cinnamon. The great thing about cinnamon is its ability to draw the natural sweetness out of particular food items while adding no unnecessary sugar and causing no increases in blood glucose. There are mixed studies about whether cinnamon can lower glucose levels, but no matter: it’s a wonderful spice to add to meals.
If you’ve slipped up and consumed too much alcohol, be sure to avoid carbohydrates. One of the biggest reasons alcohol poses a risk to diabetes sufferers is that it is full of quickly absorbed carbohydrates. Staying away from carbohydrates will keep your blood sugar levels from spiking any further, and will help prevent your alcohol consumption from causing any additional problems.
Eating sugar is a big no-no when you have diabetes. So, you should try to use a sugar substitute for anything that you would normally use sugar for. You can also use honey because it is a natural form of sugar, and the body will break it down much easier.
When dealing with a child that has diabetes, make sure that the focus of conversations is not always about the disease. While it is important to keep them informed on any recent news about the disease or to obtain feed back from them about it, it is also important to engage in normal every day conversation to establish a sense of normalcy.
When you are a diabetic there is an increased risk that you will develop some sort of gum disease. Making regular appointments at the dentist and following his suggestions on proper oral hygiene will ensure that you will stay healthy in that regard. Proper flossing and brushing are essential parts of a daily routine.
To better control your diabetes, add more exercise into your daily routine. Exercise can help to control blood sugar levels, which is essential to any diabetes maintenance plan. It also promotes a healthy weight, which can make managing diabetes easier to do. Strive for at least twenty minutes of moderate exercise three or four times a week.
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.
If you are diabetic, watch for symptoms of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. These symptoms can include clammy hands, mouth numbness, and feeling extremely thirsty. Low blood sugar can lead to serious health complications if it is not immediately addressed. To counteract symptoms, eat a natural form of sugar and follow with a source of protein. Be sure to consult your doctors if symptoms do not improve.
As you can see, diabetes is not as bad as it may seem. Check out all the different options available to you; discuss them with your doctor. Follow the tips that apply in your case. Soon you may see some relief from the affects of this disease. You can start living life with much of the zeal and vigor you have had in the past.