Diabetes can oftentimes be a very tough disease to care for. While this may seem impossible, many things are out there that can help you manage your condition. Here are some strategies and suggestions that you can use to help you stay healthy and manage your diabetes.
Tests have assigned a number to foods, depending on how much they increase blood sugar levels. The lower a food’s GI number is, the safer it is for a diabetic to consume.
Low glycemic index numbers are the best ones for those with diabetes.
Almonds are the perfect snack to fill you up without affecting your blood sugar. Unsalted almonds, protein, and other nutrients, protein and fiber to stabilize blood sugar and give you plenty of other health benefits. Keep a container or bowl of almonds handy by the couch so you have a handy snack whenever you need it.
Use caution when having a pedicure if you have diabetes. It is easy for a diabetic to get a grave foot infection, so it is necessary to be careful when dealing with your feet.
Keep your testing supplies and medications in one place, so that you always know where to find your treatments in an emergency.
Sleep Apnea
If you change to a diet rich in fiber, you can decrease your risk of developing diabetes. This is a good way to replace high glycemic foods, such as white bread or processed foods by whole grain foods. There have been studies done that have shown that when people eat more whole grains, they have less of a risk of developing diabetes.
If you have diabetes, it is important that you get some sort of sleep apnea test done as soon as you can. If you do have sleep apnea, get it treated as soon as possible to keep yourself healthy.
Many foods contain corn syrup, so be sure to read all of the labels. In other countries this item is labeled as “glucose/fructose”.
If you’re a diabetic and you’re experiencing problems related to your vision, see to it that you consult your doctor. Many eye problems can be caused by diabetes, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. It is important to have these problems taken care of because the worse case scenario is that it can cause blindness.
Smoking is especially hazardous to your health if you have diabetes. Smoking is especially harmful for those with diabetes because it has the ability to raise blood sugar to a dangerous level.
Always keep in mind the reasons why it is important to you have to take care of yourself and your diabetes. Think about what keeps you from doing the things you love, and how managing diabetes can help you do those things; think about what motivates you.
Even if you do not feel hungry, you have to keep monitoring your food intake and make healthy choices. Make sure you keep up your fluid intake as dehydration can occur during prolonged low glucose periods.
Cinnamon also helps draw out the sweetness in different foods without elevating blood glucose raising sugar. There is no consensus on whether cinnamon really lowers blood sugar, but it is not harmful and can enhance many dishes.
Favorite Foods
To measure blood glucose level, urine ketone testing is not the right thing to be doing. This method is not very accurate, and high levels of ketones only indicate that blood glucose levels are something higher than 200mg a deciliter. To get around this problem, the ADA suggests that testing methods with high accuracy, such as test strips and finger sticking, be used.
Alter the foods instead of eliminating them.One of the hardest things diabetics deal with is the diet can be very restrictive. Many even believe that they have to completely get rid of many of their favorite foods. Some people will eat what they want. The intelligent solution is to examine your favorite dishes and make substitutions. Many favorite foods are able to be diabetes-friendly meals by using healthier alternatives where appropriate.
Smoking is dangerous and can be even more unhealthy for a person with diabetes. This habit can bring on a lot of other bad health issues. Smoking causes you to be resistant to insulin, and if you’re not a diabetic, it will put you in higher risk of type 2 diabetes development.
Diabetics are at risk of many foot problems. You should ensure that you take extra care with your feet. If you are careless, you may lose one or both of them. By using these techniques, you will have less to worry about as far as your feet go.
Egg whites are a perfect breakfast for diabetics. Egg whites are great because they’re low-cal and low-fat, and they are also low in fat and calories. Try making an egg white omelet, or scrambled with a ham slice.
Make sure to pack up an insulated bag to store your insulin supply when you travel.
Skipping meals can cause blood glucose levels to rise because the liver releases glucose to give your body the fuel it needs to function. This can negatively impact a diabetic’s health. To keep blood sugar under control, you have to eat meals three times a day, as well as eating enough snacks.
Sleep Apnea
People with diabetes are likely to have other undiagnosed health problems, and one of the more serious ones is sleep apnea.Sleep apnea causes pauses in breathing for short periods as you sleep. If you are fatigued during the day, have a check-up to find out if you have sleep apnea.
It is important to understand what ketoacidosis is and what factors lead to it occurring. Ketoacidosis is the increase of acid levels in the blood that happens when you have very high blood sugar. When fat is burned to produce energy, ketones are produced. Ketones are a byproduct which raise the acid levels in your blood. The danger from this is very real and you can wind up in a coma. There are many symptoms, like thirst, odd breath, and even confusion. Symptoms are typically addressed with increased hydration and insulin. Ketoacidosis is dangerous and must be treated promptly, so monitor your blood sugar, use your insulin properly, and know the symptoms so that you do not hurt yourself.
Keep a supply bag handy so you always have them ready to treat any complication to diabetes that can occur. The bag you take everywhere should contain insulin, syringes and insulin and also test strips should be kept ready in this bag.
You will be required to care for yourself and be close to your health. It may be difficult to deal with diabetes but these tips can make it easier. Stop fighting diabetes, and start living with it, by treating diabetes like a regular, daily aspect of your life.
Rather than toss out your favorite food items, seek to transform them into healthier versions. You might be living with diabetes, but this does not mean you need to pass on all your favorite foods. Simply experiment with options for turning your favorites into things that benefit your health. There are websites and cookbooks out there that have many recipes for diabetics.