Are you living with diabetes? Diabetes does not have to be the debilitating disease that some make it out to be. You can have a “normal” life and have diabetes at the same time. Follow our tips on how to make the most out of your life with diabetes.
Feel free to ask your doctor any question about Diabetes you might have, from how it affects your bowel movements to if it can cause sexual dysfunction (yes, it can!) No question should be too embarrassing or uneducated for you to feel comfortable finding the answer to as your doctor is there to help!
Test your blood sugar before bed if you are Diabetic. It’s important to eat something if your sugar is low to make sure you’ll be okay over the long night until the morning. If your blood sugar is just right then it’s advisable to take a few bites of something to keep it up until you wake.
A good night’s sleep is a great way to lower blood sugar. Studies show that uninterrupted sleep aids the body’s ability to regulate the production of insulin. Maintaining a normal blood glucose level is important to a diabetic’s overall health, so work on setting a consistent bed time each night.
You can reduce your chance of developing diabetes by ensuring you eat a high-fiber diet. This is a good way to replace high glycemic foods, such as white bread or processed foods by whole grain foods. Research demonstrates that diets rich in whole grain are at lesser risk of suffering diabetes.
To keep your blood sugar levels from spiking, research high glycemic index foods. If you’re not knowledgeable about what ingredients you should avoid, you may consume something harmful without realizing it. If you need to eat something quickly and don’t have time to look it up, stick to non-processed foods.
Try to avoid alcohol when you are diabetic. Even small amounts of alcohol, especially beer, can dangerously raise your blood sugar. Many doctors are in agreement that having a glass of wine once in awhile is okay for diabetics, just do not have more than one glass and do not drink it everyday.
Some Diabetics can have a loss of sensation in their feet, so don’t use yours to check the temperature of water you’re planning on getting into! You could cause major damage by stepping into extremely hot water and scalding or burning your skin, so use your elbow to test instead.
Try drinking green tea if you suffer from diabetes. It is a great way to give into your sweet tooth without drinking a beverage that could affect your blood sugar. Also, although nothing has been proven, doctors are looking into the suggestion that green tea may actually lower blood sugar.
If you have Gestational Diabetes then the concept of “eating for two” needs to be forgotten. You’ll need to reduce your food intake to small amounts every few hours to keep your blood glucose levels in check over the long term of a day. Don’t forget to have a snack before bed to control overnight blood sugar!
Remove contributors to the complications of diabetes. Try to avoid unhealthy habits that will affect your heart health and chances for stroke. Smoking should be stopped at all costs, maintain a healthy blood pressure through stress management and salt control and evaluate lifestyle choices that can have less than favorable results.
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.
To stay prepared for drops in your blood sugar levels, pack glucose boosting snacks in zip-lock bags. Carrying around some low fat trail mix or cashews will ensure you’re never stuck without a healthy snack to give you a boost. If you don’t carry a purse, small snacks can easily be stored in a pocket.
At every grocery store you walk into today, you will be able to find bars or shakes that are for diabetics. If you find that you are having trouble controlling your blood glucose levels when you are out and about, carry these with you at all times for an easy and safe meal on the go.
Something every person dealing with diabetes should know is that they can use cinnamon as a natural sweetener. Everyone understands that sugar is terrible as it can significantly affect the blood sugar level of a diabetes patient, but cinnamon offers the same sweetening effects without any risk to the patient.
As you can see, it is possible to live a happy life even if you have diabetes. Living with diabetes is all what you make it, and you can make the best out of it. By following our tips you will learn how to lead a happy life, thus making the best of your health limitations.
