When people worry about diabetes, they usually aren’t frightened of testing their blood sugar level by pricking their fingers daily. It is things like diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease associated with diabetes, that really bring on the fear. Do not ever allow your diabetes reach the point in which you are in danger of developing this condition. Follow the advice that was mentioned to control your illness.
If you are diabetic, you need to learn to indulge in a healthy manner. You may not need to give up sweets completely. If your blood sugar continues to stay under control, you can enjoy dessert every now and then. Remove carbs from your meal to make room for dessert. Try to stick to equal amounts to make sure your entire meal stays balanced.
You’ll be surprised at the number of items containing corn syrup, so check labels, and be prepared to put back common items such as ketchup, sodas, sauces and sweets. Watch out for “glucose/fructose” too; this is the Canadian term for the same ingredient.
Developing Diabetes
Switching to a diet that is high in fiber can lower your risk of developing diabetes. High glycemic index foods, including processed foods and white bread, can raise your risk for developing diabetes, so you should eliminate these foods from your diet and replace them with whole grain foods. There are many studies that show that people who eat whole grains, and low-GI foods in general, get diabetes less often than those who don’t.
Always keep sugary gum or another form of sugar that is quick to grab and consume on hand when you are hypoglycemic. The effects of hypoglycemia can be much more dangerous than those of hyperglycemia, and it can rear its ugly head at any time. This is even more likely if you skip breakfast and need sugar in your system.
Online pharmacies can offer huge discounts on diabetes medications. Many of these pharmacies allow you to have shipments sent automatically each month, so you won’t run out of supplies.
Learn to identify foods that have high glycemic indices and that can cause your blood sugar to spike. Some of these high glycemic foods include cereal, pastas, breads, and juice. Processed foods and carbohydrates can been dangerous for diabetics. Concentrate on raw vegetables, fresh fruit, meat, and fish instead.
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes and notice a sudden change in your vision, you should immediately contact your doctor. Glaucoma, cataracts and retinopathy can appear because of diabetes. It’s crucial to have eyes tested for these conditions regularly; the worse thing that could happen is blindness, so it is essential to catch these problems early.
Glucose Levels
If you have diabetes, it is very important to take great care in managing what you eat. Different food affect your glucose levels differently, so you need to closely monitor what you eat. The amount of insulin that needs to be injected depends on the size of the meals eaten. Larger meals require more insulin. Staying in control of your glucose levels will become easier if you pay attention to what you are eating.
Take your insulin as directed by your doctor. In general, you should take insulin no more than 15 minutes before you eat. Fast-acting insulin is only effective in managing blood sugar levels with careful timing and consistent dosing.
To improve treatment compliance, take a moment to reflect on why you take care of your diabetes. Think about the things in your life that you enjoy doing, what are the things that keep your from doing it and what should you do to help with that. Let your love of these things keep you motivated to manage your diabetes.
For people who experience hypoglycemia, you might want to consult your physician on taking glucose tablets. Carry around some glucose tablets so that you can increase the level of sugar in your system, rather than relying on sugar foods that take a long time for your body to process.
Favorite Dishes
You don’t have to eliminate your favorite foods from your diet, but you likely will need to modify how you eat them. A lot of people struggle with their diabetes-related diet restrictions. A majority think that they have to get rid of favorite dishes. For others, the temptations of their favorite dishes will overcome dietary restrictions. The better way is to alter the recipes for your favorite foods to make them acceptable. Many foods can be made diabetes-friendly by using healthier alternatives to the problem ingredients.
Whether you feel like eating or not, you must continue to eat properly and monitor blood glucose levels. Low glucose for long periods can make you feel dehydrated, so clear fluids are very important during that 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. Some people think that testing blood glucose levels isn’t needed after giving birth, but they are wrong.
As the introduction of this article mentioned, it’s the potential to go blind and other debilitating side effects associated with diabetes that really scare people. You can work past the fear and use the information you’ve learned here to ensure that you’re never a victim of these nasty complications.