A diabetes diagnosis can be a scary thing, though you should know that by gaining a good understanding of the illness, you stand a great chance of controlling the situation and leading a happy life. This article is packed with tips to teach you what you need to know about diabetes, and the right way to improve your health and manage your diabetes care.
Glycemic Index
Look at the glycemic index on the labels of the foods you buy. This is an indicator of how this food will affect sugar levels. Low glycemic index numbers are the best ones for people who suffer from diabetes.
Many foods, such as eggs or beans, are packed full of protein and are great for someone with diabetes. Don’t let it get boring! Mix up the routine and keep your mouth at attention the entire time.
These days, diabetics are everywhere. This helps to reduce any shame or stress that accompanies the diagnosis, but it really just makes your life much easier.
If you are diabetic, be very careful when getting a pedicure. Diabetics tend to get bad infections in the feet, so you must be diligent about monitoring any cuts or injuries you receive.
Ditching the brick-and-mortar pharmacy for an online one can save a great deal of money when you need to buy your diabetes medications and supplies. You even have the option of getting your meds sent to your door each month on time.
Blood Sugar
Learn to identify foods that have high glycemic indices and that can cause your blood sugar to spike. Food that are high in glycemic indexes are pasta, cereal, desserts, juices and breads. Eating processed food will do your blood sugar no favors. Eat foods such as fresh veggies and fruit, fish, and lean meats.
There are numerous methods to lose weight that are free, everything from jogging to workouts at the park, and all of them will help in your battle against diabetes. Go to the park and use the jungle gym to do chin ups. If you want to stay home, do some weight training with bags filled with heavy objects.
If you suffer from diabetes and you have vision problems, you must discuss this with your doctor. Diabetics can experience some unique eye and vision issues in their lives. These conditions include cataract, glaucoma and even retinopathy that is specific to diabetics. This can eventually lead to blindness if you do not take care of these issues.
Be careful with what you eat if you’re diabetic. Different food affect your glucose levels differently, so you need to closely monitor what you eat. The larger the meal, the more insulin you will need to inject. If you watch what you’re eating, you can manage your blood glucose levels.
It is a good idea for diabetics to have five or six small meals throughout the day, rather than three large meals. By eating on a more regular basis, your blood sugar will be a lot more stable. You will be more satiated and less likely to binge if your eating is more frequent.
You are not at fault for gestational diabetes. It happens to people and it is something that is beyond your control. Don’t become too stressed, and think positively of your young one and yourself.
If you suffer from diabetes and you are a smoker, you should try to quit. Smoking is a terrible habit for anyone, especially diabetics because it raises blood sugar. Your physician can give you help with quitting.
Ask your doctor about sugar pills if you have hypoglycemia. You can get a prescription for glucose in tablet form. You can easily take these tablets with you wherever you go. In addition, your body can digest them much more quickly than any sweets you consume, so it takes much less time for your glucose levels to rise.
Smoking is dangerous to your health, but it is especially harmful to a person with diabetes. Having this habit will expose you to a lot of unhealthy effects. Smoking causes you to be resistant to insulin, and even if you are currently not a diabetic, it will put you in higher risk of type 2 diabetes development.
Do not rely solely upon urine ketone testing to measure your blood glucose levels. Elevated ketone levels only indicate that your blood sugar is higher than 200. More accurate methods, such as testing strips and finger sticks, are more accurate and recommended by the ADA.
Physical activity is necessary for a healthy lifestyle. To combat this problem, get daily exercise and be conscious of how your diet affects your body. With the effects that activity has on blood sugar, those who are diabetic can’t afford to sit still.
Keep your supplies in one area so that you will find them easier in an emergency. Have back up bags prepared and stored in other places just in case. Do not forget to include meter hooks, insulin and syringes in these bags.
One of the key things you need to understand is what ketoacidosis is and what causes it. Ketoacidosis can be defined as a rise in the levels of acid in the bloodstreams which happens as a result of extreme hyperglycemia. This produces ketones, which raises your blood acid level. It is very dangerous, and in some cases, can result in coma. Common symptoms include an overwhelming thirst, breath that reeks of a fruity aroma, and disorientation. These symptoms can be remedied by taking insulin coupled with increased hydration levels. There are several things you can do to avoid ketoacidosis. Monitor your blood glucose level, use your insulin properly, and know the symptoms plus the treatment options for this condition.
As you have read at the beginning, diabetes will only be scary if you do not know how to properly deal with it. If you apply the tips laid out here, you will understand that knowledge is by far the most important tool you have to manage your illness well, and to live a healthy life.