By no means is diabetes an easy disease to care for. It requires a drastic change in diet and extensive care and maintenance. Although diabetes is always a challenge, there’s lots of things that you could do to effectively deal with the illness. Below are a few key tips that are sure to help you deal with your diabetes more easily.
Try to keep a tight schedule in order to simplify your life and allow your body to get used to normal cycles. For example, keep your insulin and meter in one place each night so it is easier found in the morning. Make your blood glucose test into a daily routine so that you always remember to test your blood and always remember to write down the results.
If you are diabetic, you need to learn to indulge in a healthy manner. You probably need not shun sweets entirely. If your blood sugar continues to stay under control, you can enjoy dessert every now and then. Allow room for the after-dinner treat by cutting out carbohydrates from your entree.
If you want to add a nutritious touch to your salad, throw in some walnuts! The monounsaturated fats in walnuts can increase cell receptivity to insulin to help your body maintain good blood sugar levels. Walnuts also contain antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and omega-3’s; they will increase your energy and they are delicious.
Sleep Apnea
You should test yourself for sleep apnea if you suffer from diabetes. Sleep apnea can affect your health and your quality of life, but you can minimize the effects by getting treatment early.
If you suffer from diabetes, proceed with caution when receiving a pedicure. Because people with diabetes are likely to develop foot infections, even a small cut can have serious results.
Many foods contain corn syrup, so make sure to read food labels. This is labeled “glucose/fructose” in Canada.
Always keep sugary gum or another form of sugar that is quick to grab and consume on hand when you are hypoglycemic. Hypoglycemic attacks can happen anywhere, and you need to be prepared. This is particularly true if you didn’t eat breakfast, as it can cause your body to crave sugar.
You can find a lot of savings on diabetes medication by shopping online versus using the local pharmacy. These services can deliver the medicine to your house every month, so that you do not forget.
Glucose Levels
If you have diabetes, you must pay attention to what you eat. Different foods will affect your blood glucose levels in different ways, so you will want to carefully monitor your food choices. Large meals require large insulin injections while small meals require less. If you carefully consider what you eat, your glucose levels can easily be managed.
After treating lower levels of glucose, you should not be surprised to see your blood sugar actually spike. It may be caused by overcompensating with the food or drink you take or it can be a hormonal response of your body to combat the low glucose level. Try drinking or eating half your previous dose, then checking your blood sugar level 30 minutes later to see if the spike is smaller.
To improve treatment compliance, take a moment to reflect on why you take care of your diabetes. Remember what motivates you, be it your family, friends, pets, or career. Your passions in life should serve as excellent motivation to get your health on track.
While gestational diabetes typically goes way post-birth, you must stil have your glucose checked periodically. Many people think that you cannot still have blood sugar issues after birth, but this is false.
You shouldn’t only rely on urine ketone testing as a means to measure blood sugar levels. This method is not very accurate, and high levels of ketones only indicate that blood glucose levels are something higher than 200mg a deciliter. The ADA tells diabetics to use better ways to test yourself, these can be testing strips or finger sticks.
No employers are not allowed to dismiss applicants because they have diabetes. By law, you do not have to let your employer know of your condition before you are hired.
If you suffer from diabetes, you should ensure your teeth are properly taken care of because with diabetes, your risks of developing gum disease increases. Brush and floss on a regular basis to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Blood Sugar
If you are diabetic and want to reduce the chance of complications, get more exercise. Exercise increases your insulin sensitivity so that insulin more efficiently converts blood sugar to energy. In addition, you may lose weight due to your increased activity level. Losing weight also helps prevent diabetes or reverse diabetic symptoms. The positive blood sugar changes that occur with regular exercise make it a must for diabetics.
It is important to lower the stress in your life. Diabetics are prone to high blood pressure and heart disease, so stress should be dealt with immediately. Explore different relaxation techniques, such as meditation and yoga. You may also want to consider different breathing techniques. These are great, because you can do them anywhere.
Know what ketoacidosis is, along with how it occurs. Ketoacidosis means that there is too much acid in blood; this occurs when blood glucose levels have gotten too high. That process creates ketones, which are acidic byproducts that increase blood acid levels. Ketoacidosis can be extremely dangerous and can lead to a coma in some cases. Signs of impending ketoacidosis include becoming very thirsty, delirium, and a fruit smell on your breath. You can treat these symptoms with insulin as well as making sure to get yourself hydrated. Ketoacidosis can be prevented by being aware of any symptoms, monitoring your blood sugar, taking insulin and knowing all of your treatment options.
You will be required to care for yourself and be close to your health. While diabetes may be a challenge to deal with, the advice found here can make it less so. In order to manage diabetes, it must be taken care of daily.