The vast majority of those who contract diabetes are going to have the disease for life. With any luck, you will be able to properly manage it and stop it from becoming worse, but that’s going to take a lot of effort and the right knowledge. Here are some tips you can use to gain the knowledge necessary to manage diabetes.
A child diagnosed with diabetes might be overwhelming to cope with, but you will both get through it! It is possible for your child to live a good life due to the fact that a large number of medications are available that make it simple to manage diabetes. It is reported that the world’s oldest diabetic is now 90 years old. He made it to this age without all the modern treatments now available to diabetics!
If your child is diagnosed with Diabetes, make keeping track of their blood sugar fun. Have a contest where they get a reward for doing their blood sugar on time every day for a certain number of days, like a trip to the toy store or an hour at the park.
Restaurants tend to serve you HUGE portions, so be prepared before they even bring your meal! Bring your own reusable container, or ask the waiter for a doggy bag up front, and then put away the parts of your meal which are going to be too much for you. Getting rid of it before you eat will curb your temptation to finish it all.
Test your sugar regularly, and track the results. Keeping a log book of your sugar levels will help you and your doctor decide if your medication and diet plan are working to control your sugar. You can save money by sharing a glucometer with a family member or friend, so long as you do not share lancets.
Walmart and Costco both provide prescriptions at a discounted cost which can save you a lot of money on your Diabetes medications. They also have Diabetic supplies like monitors, lancets, test strips and syringes and they’re carried in bulk at Costco. You can also find pamphlets at both pharmacies with information on Diabetes.
Manage your blood glucose sugars with an added sense of urgency if you have been diagnosed with diabetic eye disease. Studies have shown that closely monitored glucose levels can slow the progression and worsening of eye disease over time. This is important even if you have been diagnosed with mild to moderate diabetes.
Do not rely on chocolate for a quick fix if your blood glucose levels drop. While most diabetics feel that this is a harmless remedy, it may actually have the opposite effect. The body absorbs fatty foods far more slowly, so you will notice a faster increase in glucose if you opt for a sweet, but fat-free, food.
If you are a diabetic, you need to carefully watch what you eat. Different types of foods have different effects on your blood sugar levels. The larger the meal, the more insulin you will need to inject. If you are careful with your eating, though, you can efficiently manage your blood sugar levels.
Even if you feel like your diabetes has gotten better, it is important not to stop taking your medications unless a doctor tells you it is alright to do so. The medications are most likely what is keeping your diabetes symptoms under control, so without them, your glucose or insulin levels could get out of control.
If you’re a diabetic who uses insulin to control his diabetes, make sure to rotate the insulin injection site. Rotating the site helps to make sure that the skin in one area doesn’t toughen up, making it harder to take the injection. Rotate the site every time you give yourself insulin.
Before you test your blood glucose levels, you should make sure your hands and especially your fingertips, are clean. When you clean your fingers, do not use alcohol. Alcohol is drying and can cause your fingertips to crack. When cleaning your hands, use a mild antibacterial soap such as Dial.
While most people notice that they gain weight more easily as they age, this is often more severe in diabetics. As you get older, your body burns fewer and fewer calories following physical activity. If you are diabetic, it is especially important to decrease the amount of food that you eat as you invariably decrease your activity levels. This will lengthen your life and keep you more healthy.
If you have diabetes, beware of certain diabetes supplements. People think these supplements will help control their diabetes symptoms when some of them can actually raise blood glucose or insulin levels. A good rule of thumb to follow when you have diabetes is to not take anything unless your doctor has approved it.
To keep your insulin resistance from increasing, always eat a good breakfast. Breakfast provides a kickstart to your metabolism that plays a crucial role in helping your body properly process insulin. Grabbing a quick snack instead of a balanced meal will make it hard to keep your blood sugar levels stable throughout the day.
Be vigilant when monitoring your glucose levels. If your blood glucose levels are especially high before mealtime, this may be an indication that your liver is producing far too much glucose. Try taking your insulin 60 to 90 minutes before your meal, rather than 30 to 45 minutes beforehand. This will give your body’s insulin a head start needed to more effectively manage blood glucose.
If you suffer from diabetes, a great tip is to add vinegar to your food. Vinegar has been proven to reduce your post-meal blood glucose levels by as much as 40 percent. The reason is because vinegar can hold food in your stomach for a longer period of time, which buffers the rise in your blood glucose levels. Add some vinegar to your salad.
The type of diabetes you have will dictate whether or not you have it for life, but even if you have a mild case of diabetes, you should still be doing everything in your power to regulate your blood sugar levels. Using the above information to assist you, you can work toward being an overall healthy person.