Gestational diabetes is usually a temporary condition that only occurs in pregnant women because her body does not make enough insulin to compensate for the needs of the baby. Since symptoms are usually absent or extremely mild, pregnant women are routinely screened for excess amounts of sugar in the blood.
You can get a free blood glucose meter from your pharmacy just by asking. They usually have coupons or rebates so that you can get the latest model at no cost, the caveat is that you’ll be buying their brand of blood test strips for the rest of your life.
To save money, the American Diabetes Association approves the re-use of testing lancets. These are the needles used by your glucometer to test your blood sugar. Re-using them does result in them becoming dull, so be sure to change them out when you notice the pain level of your testing rising. Never share lancets.
Check your blood sugar before you go to bed, and if it’s low, bring it up with a quick snack. This allows you to ensure that your levels are steady throughout the night. Otherwise, your levels might drop in the middle of the night, causing you to wake up with sweats and disorientation.
Increasing your intake of magnesium is not only good for your heart, it can help your diabetes too! You can find lots of magnesium in fish, leafy greens, and nuts, so include those items in your diet as often as possible. Almonds are an excellent choice to grab as a snack any time.
If you absolutely must indulge in something sweet, have a glass of decaffeinated coffee with it. This will help lower the spike in blood sugar you get after eating, potentially stopping the need for you to inject more insulin. It must be decaf, though, as caffeine can have other, unwanted side effects.
A diet too high in protein can actually be harmful to diabetics. Some people think more protein is good, but studies have shown that too much animal protein can cause insulin-resistance, a factor in diabetes. Try to include proper amounts of protein, vegetables and carbohydrates to keep your diet healthy and well-balanced.
When buying your Diabetes medicines, ask for as much as possible at one time. The fee that is added when the pharmacist dispenses your prescription is the same whether you buy 30 days or 90. Therefore, spreading that cost out over multiple days will also reduce the per-dose cost of your medications.
If you can’t afford to get a gym membership, try your local community center or YMCA. You can find great discounts and sometimes even barter with them for a membership. For example, offer to help clean the gym or work on the grounds. That’s great exercise for a diabetic, too.
Go see a professional if you are expecting a baby and think you could have diabetes. Gestational diabetes requires you to act immediately to protect your health. Not only can you get proper medications from your doctor, but he can let you know what dietary concerns you should know about.
Don’t allow anxiety about going on medication for your gestational diabetes to get out of hand. Keeping your diabetes under control is the most important thing that you can do for your baby right now. The diabetes can do far more harm than taking the safe medicines your doctor will prescribe! Talk the matter over at length with your doctor. This will alleviate your concerns.
Join a support group for those with diabetes. It’s not because you don’t fit in anywhere else, it’s because talking to others with your condition will help you to feel that you aren’t quite alone in the world. Other people are going through what you are going through and a support group can help.
For people who suffer from diabetes, try to take a multivitamin with minerals, Vitamin C and Chromium every day. These have all been proven to help keep your blood sugar at a reasonable level. Just remember that these should be taken along with medications, not as a substitute for them.
If you are planning to travel via plane, take additional precautions to protect your insulin during the trip. If your insulin is in a piece of luggage that is checked, you risk that it is exposed to especially hot or cold, even freezing, temperatures. Always keep it with you when you fly.
Something every person dealing with diabetes should know is that they can use cinnamon as a natural sweetener. Everyone understands that sugar is terrible as it can significantly affect the blood sugar level of a diabetes patient, but cinnamon offers the same sweetening effects without any risk to the patient.
If you have diabetes, it is very important for you to listen to everything your doctor has to say to you. He or she will provide you with the information you need in order to correctly maintain your condition so it does not have to take control of your life. The advice that the doctor gives you should not be taken lightly.
If your loved one, whether they be a family member or friend, has diabetes, it is up to you to make sure they are getting the care that they need. Often times people that have diabetes will not take care of themselves without proper support from the people most important to them in their lives.
If you have diabetes, then you should consider trying the guar gum supplement. Research has shown that guar gum can help lower your post meal blood sugar if you take the supplement in between your meals. It could also help reduce your cholesterol because it is really high in fiber.
If the initial screening is positive for high blood sugar, a second screening is ordered by the physician. This test checks how well insulin is metabolizing ingested sugar over a three hour period. The condition can usually be treated through diet and moderate exercise. Complications can arise, so women with gestational diabetes are closely monitored.