Accurate information will help you with practically everything in life, from purchasing the right type of car to managing your diabetes. The more you learn about any topic, the better your odds are of handling it properly. Handle your diabetes the right way by using the tips and tactics contained in the text below.
If you don’t like the taste of beans but are trying to eat properly now that you’ve been diagnosed with Diabetes, why not try eating Hummus? It is made from creamed Garbanzo Beans and it’s smooth, thick, and delicious! You can eat it on a sandwich instead of mayonnaise, or spread on crackers.
If you want to eat healthier to help overcome your Diabetes, but you just can’t stomach fish without some pops of flavor on it, try capers! They’re like olives in their flavor, but smaller and zestier. You can sprinkle them on any type of fish, I like to also add some slices of Spanish onion, and they take the place of sauce.
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.
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.
Don’t worry about having a “Diabetes Bag” that you carry around with you, just keep syringes in your purse, jacket pockets, car, and desk at work. Keep your meter and insulin with you in a small bag or your purse and you’ll be ready for injections no matter where you end up.
If you’re Diabetic, don’t overeat simply because your sugar is low. A single pack of sugary candy or a glucose tab is a much safer and more controlled method of bringing your sugar level back up. If you overeat in reaction to a low, you’re likely to spike your sugar instead of bringing it back to normal.
You can find the most common Diabetic supplies and medications available at some grocery stores for a significant discount. This can help you keep your medical bills in check, leading you to be more likely to take your medications as instructed. Feel free to reuse your syringes a few times, that will also save you money.
Ask your Physician if they have any supply samples of your Diabetes medication or syringes. It is unlikely they will have monitors to give you, or test strips or lancets for that matter, but you can get those from your pharmacist instead. They often have monitors for free, so make sure to ask!
Get familiar with the glycemic index rating of foods to help gain better control of your diabetes. It is important to learn to recognize high glycemic foods like breads, fruit juices, cereals, pasta and rice. Eating more vegetables, lean proteins and other low glycemic index foods keeps your blood sugar from spiking after meals.
There are a lot of free and low-cost ways to fight diabetes and lose weight, from walking to workouts at the local park. You can use cans or milk jugs as free weights and can turn the jungle gym at the local playground into a chin-up bar.
If you have diabetes, it is important that you take care of your feet. Simple cuts can turn into infections for diabetics, which in turn can cause serious health problems, such as gangrene and even amputation. Check your feet daily and if you notice any cuts or other irregularities, see your doctor.
It is important to control pre-diabetes with proper diet and exercise as well as keeping weight at normal levels. Studies show that even pre-diabetics are at risk of developing dangerous long-term damage from even mildly elevated blood sugar levels. These effects can be damaging even to the heart and circulatory system.
If you struggle with diabetes, a great tip is to always include healthy carbohydrates in your diet. People with type 2 diabetes who eat a minimal amount of carbohydrates have very low energy and extreme headaches. You should aim to include healthy carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. You will have more energy and less headaches.
Learning to eat right is an important factor in controlling diabetes. The key steps to developing an approriate diet is cutting back on refined carbohydrates, keeping portions sizes under control, establishing and maintaining a regular meal schedule, and consuming a variety of vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Simply speaking, a diabetes-friendly diet is low in fats, high in nutrients, and contains a moderate number of calories.
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.
A critical tip for diabetes patients is to consistently and deliberately keep track of blood sugar levels every single day. Keeping tabs on your levels can help you prevent dangerous complications, and can help you understand the impact particular types of foods or dietary habits actually have on your health.
One of the leading causes of Type II diabetes is the overconsumption of soda. Soda has a high amount of sugar, and many people just don’t realize just how much they consume (ridiculously large cups sizes are a factor!). Drinking large amounts everyday soon begins to have a toll on our bodies, and this may be hidden for some time. If you are one of the millions of Americans that drink soda everyday, the simple change of limiting your consumption to one small serving daily, can save your health and extend your life by many years.
There is a lot more information available to you out there than what you’ve just read here. Although this information is accurate and very helpful, you should never stop learning everything you can about diabetes. Education is the key to thriving with the disease, so make sure you continue to learn.