It can be very hard to change your lifestyle, after you have been set in your ways for so many years. But, if you are one of the many people with diabetes, you have to make these changes in order to maintain your health. The following hints and tips can help you prevent diabetes, reduce its effects and make changing your lifestyle as easy and stress-free as possible.
The glycemic index is a number that reflects how much effect different foods have on your blood sugar level. The lower a food’s glycemic number, or GI, the better it is for the diabetic diet.
To satisfy your hunger without throwing off your blood glucose levels, snack on almonds. Almonds without salt contain protein, fiber, and other minerals and vitamins that are healthy to eat. Keep a bowl within easy reach so that you can grab a few anytime the hunger pains start to set in.
Do things the same way each time, and life will be easier and better organized. For instance, choose a spot to keep your insulin and meter, and make sure you put them there each and every night, so you know right where they are when you need them in the morning. Let your testing become a routine and you won’t forget to do it regularly and to write in your log.
If your salad is lacking nutrients, give it a boost with some walnuts! They have mono-saturated fats. These fats cause your cells to be receptive to insulin, and this helps keep your blood sugar levels on track. In addition to being tasty and helpful in boosting energy levels, walnuts contain numerous healthy substances, including omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants.
When you are getting a pedicure be sure to be very careful if you have been diagnosed with diabetic. It is frequently difficult for diabetics to have successful healing of foot injuries. Even a small cut received during a pedicure could cause problems and complications.
Corn Syrup
Soda, ketchup, and other sweet foods have this in them, so make sure you read your ingredients and nutritional information. If it has corn syrup, do not buy it. Sometimes, this ingredient is labeled differently, depending on the country of your residence. In Canada for example, high fructose corn syrup is usually found on food labels as “glucose” or “fructose.”
Sometimes a quick snack, like a chocolate bar from a snack machine, or other goodies around the house, may be hard to avoid, diabetic or not. You should avoid giving in to this temptation. Instead, consume a food with complex carbohydrates like fruit and vegetables.
Blood Glucose Levels
If diabetes is a condition you have, cinnamon is a wonderful spice that you can use in your diet with inviting calories, sodium or sugar in. Cinnamon brings out the natural sweetness in certain foods without the added sugar that can raise blood glucose levels. Some even believe that cinnamon will lower blood glucose levels, but the jury is still out on that one.
Change your favorite dishes instead of removing them from your meal plans. One of the most difficult aspects of a diagnosis of diabetes is the restrictive diet. It is a myth that all the foods you love are off the table now. Others tend to ignore the diet and eat their favorite foods anyway. The smart thing to do is to adjust your favored dishes with substitutions. In a lot of cases, substituting healthy ingredients for diabetes-unfriendly ones can make a great dish healthier, without compromising its flavor.
Gestational diabetes should go away after the baby is born, but make sure you are always checking your sugar levels. Many people believe that your blood sugar will automatically go back to normal after you give birth, but this is often untrue.
Regular Exercise
Get regular exercise. When you exercise regularly, this results in better management of glucose and insulin in your body to ensure a stable level of blood sugar. Every diabetic should include regular exercise in their weekly routine.
Egg whites make an excellent breakfast for a diabetic diet. Egg whites have few calories, little fat, and are teeming with proteins. Try making an egg white omelet, or enjoying some scrambled egg whites alongside a slice of ham.
Sleep Apnea
Other conditions are sometimes linked to diabetes, such as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing while you are asleep. If you are feeling worn out, ask your doctor to evaluate you for this condition.
It is very unlikely that your diabetes will be cured. Once you figure out that you need to make changes, be sure that you make them for life. The information above will help you to know what you need to do. Learning to control and live with your disease is really up to you.