Living with diabetes can be uncomfortable and stressful. You need to know cutting-edge treatment methods in order to reduce the severity of your symptoms and prevent the disease from progressing. Read on to learn some great methods for fighting off the symptoms of diabetes.
When looking for a substitute for something sweet, make it yourself! For example, if you don’t want to eat sugary store bought relish since it will spike your blood sugar and set your diabetes off, then make your own by chopping up dill pickles. Need a replacement for ketchup? Try mixing pureed tomatoes and honey.
When you’re planning to go to a doctor’s visit, write down any concerns you have. It doesn’t matter how outlandish they may seem, it’s much easier to read them off a page (or PDA or tablet, whatever works for you) than trying to remember them. Every bit of information you gain will help you keep your health in check!
If you suffer from diabetes it is absolutely critical that you monitor the amount of alcohol you drink. Cutting back on alcohol consumption is one of the best things a diabetic can do to improve their health. Alcohol is loaded with empty calories and fast acting carbohydrates. These fast acting carbohydrates quickly raise blood sugar levels in the body and this, in turn, can lead to type II diabetes complications.
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.
If you are diagnosed as a diabetic it may be in your best interests to carry around a glucose gel. You simply never know when your blood sugars will jump, and consequently, when you might need a quick rush of sugar to your body. Keeping it handy can and will save your life.
There really is not a diabetic diet. The American Diabetes Association recommends that you get 50 percent of your calories from carbohydrates, 30 percent from fats, and 20 percent from proteins. Proteins work to stabilize blood sugars and to help you feel satisfied. Proteins also help your body to rebuild and provide nutrients your body needs not found in carbs and fats.
When you have diabetes, immaculate mouth care is not an option if you want healthy teeth and gums. Gum disease is much more prevalent in diabetics, and great care taken with your mouth can help you to have better dental health. Careful brushing and flossing and more frequent dental visits are important as well.
Be vigilant when monitoring your glucose levels. If your blood glucose levels are especially high before mealtime, this may be an indication that your liver is producing far too much glucose. Try taking your insulin 60 to 90 minutes before your meal, rather than 30 to 45 minutes beforehand. This will give your body’s insulin a head start needed to more effectively manage blood glucose.
Improperly managing your diabetes and blood sugar levels can lead to binge eating and overeating. Failure to accurately assess your body’s individualized responses can lead diabetics to continuously eat for fear of allowing their blood glucose levels to dip below acceptable and healthy levels. Diligent monitoring can give you a more accurate assessment than your feelings of fullness.
Watch out for foods that contain large amounts of saturated fat because it can add extra pounds that you do not need. If you gain lots of weight while trying to battle diabetes you will be faced with many problems. It is a good idea to try to lose weight since that will help keep your sugar levels at a healthy number.
You have to learn how to eat healthier foods in amounts that are not much too extravagant. Eating too much can cause a large spike in blood sugar levels, depending on what you are eating. Avoid buying items that are described as jumbo, deluxe, super sized, or jumbo.
Keep a dietary journal. When you have diabetes, it is very important to keep careful track of not only what you eat, but how much, and when you consume them. While many people can remember what they ate that day, can you remember what you ate 2 weeks ago for breakfast? Keeping a food journal gives you a record of your food intake so you can spot patterns and better control your diabetes.
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.
Since people who have diabetes usually have a high incident rate for heart disease also, diabetics should choose fats wisely. In our diets, fats can either be harmful or helpful. Saturated fats, which are primarily found in animals products, are unhealthy fats. Trans fats, which are hydrogenated fats, formed by instilling hydrogen into liquid vegetable oils, are also very bad for your health. Unsaturated fats are the healthy fats. These fats are derived from plants sources and include, olive oil and canola oil.
If you are a newly diagnosed diabetic, the number of medications that you are prescribed can seem overwhelming and confusing. Rather than simply stopping or improperly dosing any of your medications, ask to speak with your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more in-depth knowledge about when and how you should take your meds, as well as what side effects you may experience.
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