Diabetes can have far-reaching effects, touching every aspect of your life and influencing not just your diet, but also your mood, your overall health, and your appearance. There are ways to manage it, however, and here’s some useful advice for learning to live with diabetes instead of feeling like diabetes is defining your life.
Apples are so good for you if you’re diabetic! They give you something sweet to beat a sugar craving, and they’re high in fiber, which will help you keep your weight down. They don’t provide a large blood sugar spike after eating, so they can give you a ton of energy without causing you any health problems.
Check you cholesterol level as well as blood pressure! If you have Diabetes, blood sugar is not the only thing you need to keep and eye on. Diabetes can increase the likelihood of bad cholesterol being high in your blood, so you need to keep track of that – even if you’re not eating – fatty fried foods. Blood pressure can also be increased, leading to headaches, faintness, and even strokes.
People who eat at least two servings of dairy a day are less likely to develop insulin resistance, even if they’re significantly over weight. Even if you’re already Diabetic, including lots of low-fat dairy in your diet will help you to keep your blood sugar levels under control all day.
There is no treatment in the world that is as effective at controlling Diabetes as a good laugh! It lowers your stress levels, makes you FEEL good, and can give you a bit of exercise to boot. Laughter is known to cause great relief in many different conditions, so give it a try.
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.
Using a log book to record your daily glucose test results can be very helpful in controlling your diabetes. It is important to notice trends in your blood sugar readings, so having a written record can help you look back and see patterns. Taking a written record to your appointments can also help your doctor to make treatment adjustments.
When eating healthy for a Diabetic diet, compare the items various stores sell and see who has the best prices on specific items. I like to keep a spreadsheet on my phone which shows each item I buy regularly, and which store I can get it at the best price so I can stock up when I go to that store.
Do not take blame for having gestational diabetes. It will affect some people, and in more cases than not, it is not in anyone’s control. Don’t become too stressed, and think positively of your young one and yourself.
Check your blood sugar levels regularly. It is possible to have dangerously high or low blood sugar without showing any symptoms. Having a persistently high blood sugar count can cause you to have an increased risk of developing kidney failure, circulation problems, heart disease stroke, and even blindness. Make sure you keep a record of your numbers as well, to watch for trends and sugar spikes.
A great tip to handle your diabetes is to maintain consistent eating habits. Skipping meals can lead to overeating which in turn can lead directly to weight gain. This, as you know, is terrible for diabetes and is exactly the opposite of what you should be trying to do. Eat at the same times each day to keep yourself from getting hungry.
Eating sugar is a big no-no when you have diabetes. So, you should try to use a sugar substitute for anything that you would normally use sugar for. You can also use honey because it is a natural form of sugar, and the body will break it down much easier.
If you have laser eye therapy to correct eye damage caused by your diabetes, be careful how you exercise for at least a month after your surgery. In order to maximize the chances of full recovery, don’t do exercises that involve straining or increase of eye pressure, which could stress the blood vessels that were repaired. That means no weight lifting underwater diving or exercise routines that involve holding your breath.
If you are diabetic, lose that extra weight. Scientific studies have shown that losing about two pounds of body weight can decrease the risks related to diabetes by about sixteen percent. A few dietary changes and some moderate exercise can get you well on the way to reaching your optimum weight. You’ll be doing your health a favor by making the effort to get the pounds off.
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.
Anytime a physician diagnoses an individual with diabetes, it’s critical that the person educate themselves thoroughly about the condition. The more informed people are about their disease, the more prepared they will be to make the proper choices when it comes to their treatment and care. Knowledge is important to have when dealing with diabetes.
Write up some quick emergency instructions for you to keep with you at all times. In these instructions makes sure to describe your care regimen in case you are rendered unconscious or unable to speak. This can be of great help to those who have a serious diabetic condition and can go into shock.
With tips like the above, you can take control of your life and make sure diabetes isn’t the sole determining factor in what you do, how you feel and the choices you make. While you should definitely keep it in mind, that doesn’t mean it has to prey on your peace of mind. Even with diabetes, you can live a full, fun and happy life.