The human body is incredibly delicate. One minor thing can go wrong with how your body breaks down sugars, and the end result can be a case of diabetes. Read this article now and find out about the many different ways in which you can work to combat this disease.
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. Having a low GI number is important if you are trying to manage your diabetes.
Keep track of your Diabetic supplies and make sure you always have a backup. Obviously, keeping a huge stock of insulin isn’t feasible as it has an expiry date, but lancets and test strips don’t! Keep enough insulin on hand so that you know you’ll use it in time, but you also will never be left without it.
If you absolutely must indulge in something sweet, have a glass of decaffeinated coffee with it. This will help lower the spike in blood sugar you get after eating, potentially stopping the need for you to inject more insulin. It must be decaf, though, as caffeine can have other, unwanted side effects.
DefeatDiabetes.org helps people who are struggling financially to receive supplies which will help them keep their diabetes under control. You can get as much as 35% cash back on purchases through their store, and they have additional programs to give you even deeper discounts if you ask for help through their website.
When buying your Diabetes medicines, ask for as much as possible at one time. The fee that is added when the pharmacist dispenses your prescription is the same whether you buy 30 days or 90. Therefore, spreading that cost out over multiple days will also reduce the per-dose cost of your medications.
To make sure you get the most out of your doctor’s appointments, write down questions before the appointment. A doctor is a great resource to anyone suffering from diabetes, and you should make sure to take full advantage of their knowledge. Don’t be afraid to ask for lots of information. Your doctor will be happy to help you better manage your condition.
A great before bed snack for a Diabetic is a glass of skim milk with two tablespoons of Whey protein added. This gives you something to keep your blood sugar levels stable over night, while the protein will help the milk digest and keep it from spiking your blood sugar too high while you sleep.
A Diabetic diet can include many “bad” foods as long as you reduce your portions. MANY studies have shown that people who live to a hundred eat a diet that is very restrictive on calories. This leads them to have healthy organs, strong minds, and a long, happy, vigorous life.
If you have Gestational Diabetes then the concept of “eating for two” needs to be forgotten. You’ll need to reduce your food intake to small amounts every few hours to keep your blood glucose levels in check over the long term of a day. Don’t forget to have a snack before bed to control overnight blood sugar!
Remove contributors to the complications of diabetes. Try to avoid unhealthy habits that will affect your heart health and chances for stroke. Smoking should be stopped at all costs, maintain a healthy blood pressure through stress management and salt control and evaluate lifestyle choices that can have less than favorable results.
If you have diabetes, wear an I.D. bracelet at all times. Although it may trivial, wearing an I.D. bracelet can save your life if you were to pass out as paramedics will know you suffer from diabetes and can help treat you effectively. If you do not feel like wearing an I.D. bracelet, make sure to keep something on you that says you are a diabetic.
To keep your blood sugar levels from getting too low, never go more than 5 waking hours without a meal or a snack. If you don’t plan on waking up in the night to have a snack and check your insulin levels, you should also eat something right before bed. This will make sure that your body never goes too long without what it needs.
Take all of your medications that your doctor prescribes you. Follow the directions exactly, or you will not be getting the benefits of the treatment. If you have any side effects that you do not like call your doctor and they may be able to give you something else that agrees with your body better.
Diabetes related diseases are the second largest killer in The United States. This epidemic can be avoided with daily exercise and simple changes in diet. Cut out soda, candy and fatty meats and replace them with fruit, whole grains, and lean meats. This can add years to our life.
Use single serving bags for your snacks. Usually after one bag, you won’t eat more than that. Sometimes, the cost of single serving snacks can deter you away from buying them, but you can also buy them as you normally would and separate them into snack bags when you get home from the grocery store.
To keep your blood sugar levels steady, you should eat several small meals in a day rather than loading up on three meals a day. Have three light meals with light snacks in between and before bedtime to keep a steady, even blood sugar level and to maintain optimum weight.
There are many forums and blogs where you can connect with other diabetics and people whose loved ones have diabetes. Getting connected with people who share this disease will make it easier for you to keep up with the latest news and treatments and learn tips from them that will help.
As you read at the opening of this article, the human body is delicate. Bones may be strong, but your body chemistry is very susceptible. If you have diabetes, you must now focus on maintaining the proper balance in your diet and the proper levels of glucose in your blood. Use what you’ve learned here to help stay on top of the disease.