Diabetes is thought to be an extremely serious medical condition which may lead to very bad health problems and even death. To live a long and healthy life even with diabetes, you need to learn more about the disease, its effects and its treatments. There are many useful pieces of information in this article.
To help make your diabetes control efforts less of a hassle, get organized and keep a constant testing routine. Don’t stumble around looking for items, such as insulin or associated equipment; have a place for it and keep it there. Get into a routine every day to do the test and then record the levels into your log.
Certain foods have been assigned a glycemic index rating that reflects how they will have an impact on your blood sugar levels. Keep in mind that you want a lower GI number, this is better for diabetics.
If you’re diabetic, you must learn to indulge healthily. It is probably not necessary for you to ban sweets altogether. As long as you keep your sugar levels under control, you can eat dessert on occasion. Make sure you eat less carbohydrates than you usually would to make room for your dessert.
Sleep Apnea
Sleeping well is especially important for diabetics and if you experience problems sleeping, it can be helpful to be tested for sleep apnea. If you do have sleep apnea, start treatment right away to protect yourself from future health issues.
People with diabetes are at high risk for sleep apnea, so get tested right away. If you have sleep apnea, you should get it treated immediately to stay healthy.
Many grocery store items contain this ingredient, so become label conscious. If you find HFCS on the label, pick something else. Also, be aware that outside of the United States corn syrup may be listed as something else, such as glucose or fructose if you are in Canada.
Ditching the brick-and-mortar pharmacy for an online one can save a great deal of money when you need to buy your diabetes medications and supplies. You can even set up monthly deliveries, so you never run out of the diabetes supplies you need.
Being diabetic and a snacker can make it hard to stay away from the not-so-healthy snacks available. It is important, though, that you bypass these snacks and eat a complex carbohydrate, such as fruit or vegetables.
If you tend to get hypoglycemic reactions, make sure you carry sugary snacks with you. Hypoglycemia can strike at any time, and you must be prepared for an attack. This is especially true if you have not eaten breakfast, as your body is craving sugar.
Pregnant mothers should understand and take heart in the fact that gestational diabetes has not been caused by something they have done. Sometimes it happens and a lot of the time you cannot stop it from happening. Don’t let your stress overwhelm you, and keep your chin up when thinking about your kid and yourself.
If you smoke, and you have diabetes, now is a good time to quit. Diabetes and the effects of smoking can both inhibit blood flow. Even worse, it can cause quite a spike in blood sugar levels. If you are having problems quitting smoking, ask your doctor for quitting methods.
Ask your doctor about sugar pills if you have hypoglycemia. You can get a prescription for glucose in tablet form. These tablets can be easily carried around and can increase your glucose level effectively and more quickly than other sugary foods, because these foods take time to digest.
Educate yourself so that you know which foods are most likely to cause your blood sugar to spike. For example, most juices, breads, desserts, cereals, and types of pasta are high glycemic index foods. Eating processed food will do your blood sugar no favors. Choose better foods, including fruits that are fresh and vegetables that are not canned, as well as seafood and meats.
Regardless of whether you feel hungry or not, keeping your body on a regular meal schedule is crucial to maintaining healthy glucose levels. Keep the fluids up as well, in order to avoid dehydration.
Smoking is an unhealthy, dangerous practice, but it is even more dangerous for a person with diabetes. Do not start smoking and if you already do, you should consider quitting. Smoking makes you more resistant to insulin. If you don’t already have diabetes you may have an increased risk of getting type 2 diabetes.
A common misconception regarding diabetes is that the diabetic is not allowed any sugar. You don’t have to get rid of sugar in your diet, just watch your sweets intake. A tiny serving of one of your favorite treats for very special occasions can still be enjoyed from time to time. If you’ll be enjoying some sweets, eliminate other carb containing foods to fit the sweets in.
See your doctor if you have diabetes and begin to have vision problems. Diabetes can cause various eye problems, such as cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. It is very important that you have ongoing medical attention for these eye disorders because they can lead to blindness.
Exercise regularly. This will help you process insulin and sugar while keeping glucose levels stable. For diabetics, exercise is an essential addition to the lifestyle.
Glucose Levels
Don’t rely only on ketone testing with your urine to measure your glucose levels. A high level of ketones in the urine only indicate that glucose levels are higher than 200 mg per deciliter. Instead of this method, it is recommended by the ADA to use testing strips and finger pricks, which are more accurate.
You are not at fault for gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes occurs to some people and there is rarely something anyone can do about it. Keep your stress to a bare minimum, and think positive and happy thoughts about your child and yourself.
It is essential for diabetics to know proper ways to take care of their bodies. The insights here can be applied to many situations that arise for those suffering from diabetes.