Dealing with diabetes is a challenge for millions of people worldwide. While diabetes is a disease which should not be discounted, one can combat diabetes most effectively if equipped with the right information and advice. This article contains information and advice to help you deal with diabetes.
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.
Vinegar helps to keep blood sugar spikes at bay for diabetics who eat it during a meal. Some people actually recommend drinking it straight before you eat! I like to sprinkle it on a salad, or douse my vegetables in it. It's also great for marinating meats! It's extremely versatile.
Eating fresh, non-processed foods is an easy way for a diabetic to keep his or her weight in check and blood sugar stable. By shopping only the outside aisles of the grocery store you will find you're not exposed to the processed sugary or carbohydrate-laden trees, that can lead to temptation.
Enroll in a diabetes class or schedule meetings with a diabetes educator. Your physician is a good source of health information, too, but an educator is specifically trained to bring medical jargon down to your level. An educator or class can take a lot of the mystery out of your diabetes treatment plan, which is important in order for you to be active in your health care.
Make sure to take your diabetes medications exactly as directed. You are NOT a doctor, nor is anyone else giving you advice other than your physician. They tell you how often to take your prescriptions and how much you should take at a time because they know, so follow their directions.
If you have been diagnosed with Diabetes – keep a diet diary! This is a handy tool! A diary will allow you to track what and how much you are eating. It will also help you detect a pattern you may have for a certain craving at a particular time of the day. You will be able to see which foods cause your blood glucose level to spike. Perhaps you can make some tasty alternatives that will not have such an effect on your Diabetes? Doing so will help you to avoid any unnecessary headaches.
If you're having trouble finding organizations in your area that can help you get help with your Diabetes, dial 211. The United Way can point you in the right direction towards support groups and other organizations who will help you get discounted supplies and prescriptions so you can stay healthy.
If you live close to the Canadian border and drive, consider going to Canada to pick up your Diabetes prescriptions. The Canadian government regulates the sale of prescriptions so that they can not have huge fees added to their cost. Often you can get the exact same medications for a huge discount, and they're safe to take as they're under the same or even stricter health regulations.
Create a journal, and keep track of your blood sugar level every time you check it. Sometimes your blood sugar can reach dangerous levels without symptoms presenting themselves. If you do not keep track of your levels, you put yourself at a greater risk for kidney failure, stroke, gout, heart disease, and other debilitating maladies.
Women, especially when in their teens and early twenties, may experience significant fluctuations in their blood glucose levels in the week immediately leading up to their menstrual period. Monitor your levels during this time, then make any necessary adjustments in your insulin dosages and urinary ketone measurements, as this can prevent further spikes.
Have a bedtime snack. While you sleep, your blood sugar levels can drop seriously low. To avoid morning hypoglycemia, have a small snack to keep your blood sugar levels high. The perfect snack before bed? A peanut butter sandwich or a banana. Anything with fiber is a great idea for snacks at this time.
If you find yourself yawning more frequently than usual at a time of day in which you are ordinarily high-energy, low blood glucose levels may be the culprit. Take your blood sugar measurements to confirm whether or not this is the case; over time you should be able to identify your body's standard responses to changes in glucose levels.
Diabetes is a terrible disease and is a challenge for millions of people. However, it is much easier to deal with diabetes if you have accurate information. This will help you deal with diabetes' worst symptoms. Apply this article's advice, and be on your way to dealing with your diabetes effectively.