Properly handling diabetes can be difficult, especially if you do not know a lot about it. There are certain foods that you should eat, medicine that you may need to take and an exercise regimen that you may need to follow. The following tips can help you learn how to live a healthy and functioning life, even if you have diabetes.
Seeds are an excellent snack for diabetics! They pack a nutritional punch that includes healthy oils and fats as well as fiber and protein. One can keep a container of unsalted sunflower seeds at their desk with a plastic spoon in it so a mouthful can be eaten whenever a pick me up is needed.
If you feel the need for a side dish with dinner, skip the potato chips and reach for a bag of corn chips. Whole grain tortilla chips provide a ton of fiber while being really tasty. Dip them in salsa to get some vegetables, fruit, and a dose of vinegar, which will keep your blood sugar levels from spiking.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is an irreversible condition causing tingling and even numbness or pain in your arms and legs. This is caused by not controlling your blood sugar which leads to damage to the nerves in your limbs. If you get your Diabetes in check you can sometimes lessen the symptoms and stop it from progressing further.
When traveling it is especially important to keep food with you. You may be strolling through a museum or shopping in an unknown area, and you could find that there is nothing healthy or appealing to eat. If you have your own snack it will at least tide you over until you can find something palatable.
To allow yourself to still enjoy your favorite foods, make simple substitutions. Collard greens can be made with turkey broth instead of ham hock, and ground beef can easily be replaced by ground turkey. Try purchasing a diabetes cookbook. You may find that you can keep on eating many of your favorite meals.
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.
It is important that you know how to use your insulin pump. Many people do not get the proper amount of insulin because they are not using their pump correctly. If you do not know what you are doing, do not feel ashamed to ask your doctor or another health professional, for help.
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.
A tip to prevent or manage diabetes is to eat high-fiber foods such as whole grains as much as possible. Processed foods, including white bread, have a high glycemic count due to being full of refined carbohydrates and these can increase the diabetes risk. This is because they lead to spikes in the blood sugar levels whereas the more natural the food, the easier it is to be digested.
Diabetes can affect the eyes, so make sure you are seeing an eye doctor regularly to catch any complications before they become worse. Be aware of any changes in your vision; diabetes can damage the nerves in the eyes so stay vigilant about any changes you see.
Even though your as big as a house, it’s important for women with Gestational Diabetes to exercise as much as possible. Even if you’re just doing yoga or going for a long walk, exercise will help you keep your weight to a reasonable level and your mind stress-free, leading to better health.
If you have diabetes, you should try to cut out alcohol or talk to your doctor if you can not. Alcohol can cause low blood sugar, which is called hypoglycemia. The effects can be very hard to predict with different people. Doctors will allow some people to have a drink or two with proper management, but it is best to avoid alcohol altogether.
Watch out for trans-fats. Trans fats are found in any foods containing partially hydrogenated oils. These fats are dangerous for everybody, but diabetics are at extra risk. Trans fats cause increased amounts of fat around the waistline which has been linked to heart disease. They are also extremely high in calories and low in nutritional content.
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.
When you have diabetes, do not fail to take note that how much you eat in regards to the portion size and overall content since it will have an effect on your blood sugar levels and possibly cause you to gain weight which will negatively impact your situation in dealing with diabetes.
Test your blood sugar levels before you go to bed each night. Treat your highs and lows properly if they are there. You will find that you will get a better night sleep and that you will likely feel much better in the morning if you go to bed with a good blood sugar level.
Now that you know some tips for living with diabetes, you should be able to live a fulfilled life, while still staying as healthy as possible. It may be tough at times but it is important to follow the tips provided, so that you can control your diabetes symptoms, rather than have them control your life.
