Diabetes is a disease that is linked with obesity and currently proliferating in our society. We need to learn more about it, in order to stave off this epidemic that is causing so much suffering, disability and financial loss. Here are tips to help you understand diabetes and how to avoid it or deal with it if you have it.
Diabetics should increase the amount of fiber in their diet to help lose weight and keep regular. Fiber also has been shown to not raise blood sugar after a meal, so it can fill you up without giving you a sugar spike. There are many fruit and vegetables which have high fiber, so try to include them in your regular meals.
If you want a snack that’s fun to eat and tasty too, but your Diabetes means that you don’t seem to have any options, reach for popcorn! You can leave the butter out if you’re trying to lose weight, and keep the portion down so that you don’t overdo your carbohydrates.
Diabetic children can often feel ostracized or different than their classmates. You must remind your child that everyone is different, and that they’re just like any children with peanut allergies or a pair of glasses. Their Diabetes is just a bump in their life, not a hurdle, and they’ll be a stronger person some day for working hard at keeping it at bay.
Pay attention to the feeling in your feet and hands by testing them once in a while. Go barefoot on the floor and see if you can feel the grout between the tiles. When you’re in the shower, drop something and step on it so you can see how well you feel it. Do the same when holding a pencil or pen. If you feel any loss of sensation, go to your doctor and let them know!
It is possible to lower your blood sugar with exercise, so give it a try and see what it does for you. Make sure to test yourself immediately after you exercise to make sure your blood sugar has gone down to a level that is tolerable, otherwise you’ll have to take your insulin.
Keep track of your Diabetic supplies and make sure you always have a backup. Obviously, keeping a huge stock of insulin isn’t feasible as it has an expiry date, but lancets and test strips don’t! Keep enough insulin on hand so that you know you’ll use it in time, but you also will never be left without it.
Check to see if your grocery store puts out items that are close to their due date for clearance. Often, you can use things like ripe bananas for muffins or banana bread and you can find awesome sugar-free and low-carb recipes for both foods online. This can make for tasty and healthy treats, at a low cost, that any diabetic can enjoy!
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 find that your A1C levels are disproportionately higher than your typical blood glucose levels, the problem may be that you are measuring your pre-meal levels, which does not give you an accurate reading. Your average levels may not accurately reflect readings that are taken before, during, and after eating your meals.
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.
You can reduce your risk of diabetes by losing weight. The more overweight someone is, the more likely they are to develop type 2 diabetes. If you are someone who is at risk, make sure to change to a healthier diet and start exercising more so that you can prevent this disease.
Diabetes Diagnosis
To help yourself deal with a diabetes diagnosis, arrange to meet with a diabetes expert or take a class. Diabetes may seem as though it’s overwhelming to live with, but a good instructor can help simplify the disease and give you ways to cope. Getting good advice from a knowledgeable source is invaluable to any diabetes sufferer.
If you are diabetic, make sure that you take care of your teeth and gums. This is extremely important, because diabetics are at a higher risk of becoming victim to gum disease. Brush and floss, at least twice a day, and visit your dentist twice a year. Make sure your dentist is aware of your diabetes diagnosis.
A good way for you do deal with the stress of a recent diabetes diagnosis, is to take the time to learn about your disease. If you take the time to find as much information as you can about the disease, you are going to be able to understand the importance of the treatments that your doctor has recommended. You will also see that a great quality of life is still possible, so long as you follow sensible advice concerning the problem.
You may have heard of an aunt who became blind or a man whose leg had to be removed as a result of diabetes. While it is true that things like this can happen, chances are they won’t. Understand that even though one may have been diagnosed with diabetes, a long and fulfilling life is likely to still be ahead.
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