If you are diabetic, do you know exactly what you should be eating, how much exercise you need and how much sleep you should be getting? Below, you will read some expert tips to help you deal with your diabetes.
Glycemic Index
Almonds are a great way to keep your sugar levels stabilized if you need a little snack. Plain almonds have lots of protein, fiber and other nutrients, making them a healthy food to consume. Keep a bowl by the couch so you can grab some for a snack while you watch TV.
The glycemic index of foods indicates how much the food item can affect glucose levels. As a diabetic, you want to eat the foods with a low glycemic index most often.
If you tend to get hypoglycemic reactions, make sure you carry sugary snacks with you. Hypoglycemia can flare-up at any time, so it is extremely vital you are always prepared. This is particularly true if you didn’t eat breakfast, as it can cause your body to crave sugar.
You can lose weight and fight against your diabetes by going for a run. You can use the jungle gym to do chin ups, or use canned goods and bags of heavy things for weight lifting.
You will ensure your life will be easier to deal with if you stay organized. Keep your testing supplies and medications in one place, and make sure you leave them there after you finish your routine. When you are testing your blood sugar, write down all your levels in a log.
Gestational Diabetes
If you have a baby on the way and show symptoms of gestational diabetes, call your general practitioner right away. Untreated gestational diabetes can pose a risk to both you and your baby. Your doctor will be able to tell you what you should eat and perhaps give you some medications.
Talk to a physician immediately if you have any vision problems. There are a number of eye conditions that are associated with diabetes, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and particularly diabetic retinopathy. Be sure to have your vision checked as soon as possible to prevent further damage, which can include blindness.
Instead of cutting all sugar out of your diet, learn to control yourself and moderate your intake of sweets so that you can keep your diabetes under control while still enjoying life. It may not be necessary to avoid sweet treats completely. So long as your blood glucose level is at its proper level, having an occasional dessert will be fine. Allow room for the after-dinner treat by cutting out carbohydrates from your entree.
Blood Sugar
Be careful with what you eat if you’re diabetic. Your blood sugar will be effected differently by various foods, so keep track of what you eat and how it will impact your blood sugar. Large meals will need larger doses of insulin to process, and small meals require less. By watching your meals, you will be able to better manage your blood sugar.
Do not blame yourself for gestational diabetes. In most cases, this condition does not appear for any specific reasons. Minimize your stress and focus on the good things about your kid and you.
Learn to identify foods that have high glycemic indices and that can cause your blood sugar to spike. Foods with high glycemic indexes include pastas, cereal, breads, juices, and desserts. Processed foods are bad for your blood glucose levels. Fresh produce, poultry and other lean meat are foods you should focus on to keep your blood sugars more under control.
A rise in blood sugar levels may occur after treating an episode of low blood sugar. This is caused by one of two factors: your body responds to low glucose by releasing hormones, and you may actually be eating or drinking more than is necessary in response to lowered glucose levels. Try lowering the amount of food or drink by half and give your levels a check at 30 minutes.
This increases the chances for your child to get diabetes later in life. Do NOT curse your child with this disease, instead take care of yourself now.
Unless otherwise directed by your physician, you should always take fast-acting insulin between one to fifteen minutes before you sit down to eat your meal. This insulin helps your blood sugar stay at a proper level when it is used properly. But it needs to be dosed and timed out properly.
As a diabetic, rather than eating three meals a day, consider eating five to six lighter meals. Eating frequent small meals improves your chance of keeping glucose levels stable. Plus, by eating regularly you are less likely to have an eating binge due to being hungry.
Keep in mind the advantages to managing your diabetes effectively. Remember what motivates you, be it your family, friends, pets, or career. Let your love of these things keep you motivated to manage your diabetes.
If you have diabetes, cinnamon is a great spice to eat without adding sugar, sodium or calories. In addition to its own unique flavor, cinnamon can enhance the natural sweetness present in some foods, without the addition of blood glucose raising sugar. Some studies have shown that cinnamon will lower the sugar levels, but regardless it is a good thing to add to your foods.
You need to know a ton to live a safe diabetes lifestyle. You want to know all that you can so that you can limit the effects of diabetes. Use the information that has been provided here and that dark cloud will soon float away.
Do not be surprised if your blood sugar levels spike after treating a low glucose situation. There can be two reasons for this. One, your body may be releasing hormones in response to low glucose levels. Two, you may be eating too much in response to the low reading. The next time, try to drink or eat half of what you normally do, then check the levels again after a half hour.