Many people around the world suffer from diabetes. This can be a very manageable disease if you are properly educated and take the time to learn some tips to manage it successfully. The following tips are proven to help you or your loved ones live a full life with diabetes.
Yogurt is an excellent way for a diabetic to convince their mouth that low-fat, sugar-free food IS enjoyable. Have a cup of non-fat yogurt mixed with seasonable fruit for breakfast with a high-fiber muffin and a glass of milk so that you’ll have enough energy to last you right through until lunch.
If you have diabetes, talk to your insurance provider and healthcare provider to see if an insulin pump might be a helpful and affordable thing for you. While expensive and more difficult to maintain, it can provide your body with a more stable insulin level, which may be helpful for some patients.
Keep track of your blood sugar levels in a log book, so you know where you’ve been and how you’re doing currently. If you can’t afford enough test strips to check multiple times a day, check at a variety of different times, so that you can get an idea of how your sugar is going throughout a typical day.
If you feel someone is giving you unwelcome advice about diabetes, ask them to back off. If you do it politely they won’t be offended, and you won’t have to listen to them rattle on about things you either don’t care about or already know. If you have the knowledge to back it up then you’ll become the master of your domain!
A Diabetic will need more than just a physician on his health care team. You should ask for a referral to an endocrinologist (they’ll help you with your insulin), a registered dietitian or nutritionist, an optometrist or ophthalmologist, a dentist, and a podiatrist. Once you have them all on your team you’ll be ready to fight Diabetes head on!
Find out if your state government offers neighborhood health services where you can get discounted medical treatment, supplies, and prescriptions to help you battle your Diabetes. Some states also offer discounted health insurance, which can be an even bigger help by allowing you to seek treatment in your own city or town.
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.
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.
You must consider fruit and high-glycemic index vegetables very carefully when planning a diet for Diabetes. Many fruits contain a LOT of sugar, which can affect your blood glucose adversely. Vegetables can cause the same problems, especially in juice form, including carrots, peas, and corn. Try to stick to low GI items like broccoli or apples which are rich in fiber.
Educate yourself. Being diagnosed with diabetes can be a scary prospect, so seek out information in order to be prepared and know what to expect. You can look into a class at your local community college, or check with the American Diabetes Association, as they have a team of educators who hold informational meetings you can attend.
Alcohol consumption causes the body to have an excessively high intake of carbohydrates. This raises the blood sugar level in your body and over a period of time significantly increases your chances of getting type 2 diabetes. Routine alcohol consumption at high levels is severely detrimental to your health for many reasons including contributing to diabetes.
When it comes to dealing with diabetes, it is important to know that medication can definitely help you but it is not always the cure for the disease. This is important because this medication can sometimes be extremely expensive and it may become frustrating if you do not see the results you expect.
If you have diabetes and still crave sweets, just remember to eat them in moderation. It’s a myth that diabetics can’t eat any sugar at all –but it is true that diabetes means you need to consume sugar with care. If you eat sweets, eat small amounts, and remember that the sweets count toward your carbohydrate tally for that meal.
If you are a diabetic seeking exercise, make sure that you stay away from any exercises that require the weight lifting and pushing or pulling heavy objects. During this kind of exercise, blood pressure and blood sugar levels are raised which can lead to many harmful health factors. To be on the safe side, avoid such exercises and keep your lifting to a minimum.
Watch the low-fat snacks. Some people believe that since a snack is low-fat, then the calories aren’t as high. This can cause you to overeat because you think these snacks are better for you. Low-fat snacks really don’t save that many calories. If you do eat them, consume as many of them as you would, a regular snack.
Keep protein bars on hand for those times when you need a quick snack to keep your blood glucose levels under control. There are bars or shakes on the market made specifically for those with diabetes and they can be used as a meal replacement. Don’t eat them along with a regular meal, however, and this could cause your glucose levels to rise.
As it was stated at the beginning of this article, diabetes is a manageable disease and it does not have to take the joy out of your life. Use the tips that were listed to help manage diabetes successfully. Diabetes does not have to rule your life if you apply these tips to your daily routine.