Diabetes is a very serious and potentially devastating disease that afflicts millions of people worldwide. Although being diagnosed with diabetes is often very scary, it does not have to be. You can still enjoy a great quality of life. It is important for diabetics to fully understand their disease and learn how to take proper care of their health. The following article contains a number of tips for dealing with diabetes.
Lemon juice is a tasty addition to any salad or even a glass of water, and studies show it can help you avoid a spike in your blood sugar after a meal. I like to make lemon juice ice cubes and let them melt in my drink, making it a little easier to drink.
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.
Do not skip meals, especially breakfast. When you let too much time lapse between meals or skip a meal completely, you risk having your blood glucose levels drop too low. Diabetics who eat breakfast, lunch and dinner without skipping any meals are much more likely to have normal glucose readings.
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.
To avoid developing more serious health problems because of your diabetes, be sure to take any prescribed medication as directed. Keeping track of medication can be a challenge, but it’s vital to maintaining your health. If your medications have troublesome side effects, see your doctor immediately, and don’t discontinue the medication without their okay.
With all the information in this article about how to manage your diabetes, you are likely already thinking about ways you’re going to change your lifestyle towards managing your diabetes. The more you apply what you know, the more natural it becomes to do it without thinking about it. When you do that, living with diabetes should feel a lot less stressful and much more manageable.