Learning to cope with diabetes can be a trial at the start. This article explores ideas on learning to live with diabetes. At first, a diagnosis of diabetes can come as a shock, yet learning tricks and tips to keep you healthy is important. There is no need to fall into a great depression with the diagnosis of diabetes, yet you do need to keep your health in check.
If you’re Diabetic, you must quit smoking. End of story, period, that’s that. You cannot have any bad habits while your body is already having these types of problems or else any treatment you’re receiving will be sabotaged. It’s time to make a choice – do you want to live a long, healthy life, or smoke?
There is no treatment in the world that is as effective at controlling Diabetes as a good laugh! It lowers your stress levels, makes you FEEL good, and can give you a bit of exercise to boot. Laughter is known to cause great relief in many different conditions, so give it a try.
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.
An easy way to reduce your risk of contracting diabetes is to get up and get active. People who take an hour long brisk walk daily will reduce their risk of contracting diabetes by over 35%. Even when you cannot walk for an hour a day, do what you can to get moving like take the stairs instead of the elevator, park at the furthest parking spot at the grocery store, or take two or three trips in carrying in the groceries.
A diet too high in protein can actually be harmful to diabetics. Some people think more protein is good, but studies have shown that too much animal protein can cause insulin-resistance, a factor in diabetes. Try to include proper amounts of protein, vegetables and carbohydrates to keep your diet healthy and well-balanced.
eBay is a great place to pick up exercise equipment to help you keep your Diabetes under control. Many people will pick up all the stuff they need to lose weight after making a New Year’s resolution, only to give up by March. This is the best time to scour the site for huge discounts.
Pressure on your feet can cause major damage to a Diabetic, so be sure to buy shoes that are exactly the right size and have cushioning for your feet. There are even special shoes made for Diabetics that have specific features which are of benefit to sensitive feet like yours.
There are many signs and symptoms of diabetes, so it’s possible to only have some of them, or even none at all, and be diabetic. Some common symptoms encountered are tingling feet, high blood pressure, extreme lethargy, and an unquenchable thirst. Getting your blood-glucose levels checked once a year at your physical is absolutely imperative to a long, healthy life.
To make sure the carbohydrates you consume don’t cause an issue for your body, eat them alongside protein. Protein will make sure your body absorbs the carbohydrates you eat slowly, which will help prevent dramatic changes to your blood sugar levels. Protein rarely increases blood glucose levels, and it’s a great way to balance carbohydrates out.
Making the switch to high fiber foods will help lower your risk for diabetes. Try to eat only whole grains, they are packed with fiber that allows your body to digest foods without getting a spike in blood sugar which is what happens when you eat mostly refined carbs (white bread and any type of processed foods).
Do not eat meats that are high in fat if you have diabetes. These meats can raise your glucose levels which can cause many serious health problems. Most supermarkets sell lean meats that have the same taste but are healthier for your diabetes. Also, try to stick with low-fat dairy products.
Cut down on simple carbohydrates. These foods, such as pasta and bread, cause your blood sugar levels to spike which may cause hyperglycemia and a need for more insulin; that may result in a hypoglycemic episode. Stick to complex carbohydrates such as whole grains in order to keep your blood sugar stable.
Alcohol consumption causes the body to have an excessively high intake of carbohydrates. This raises the blood sugar level in your body and over a period of time significantly increases your chances of getting type 2 diabetes. Routine alcohol consumption at high levels is severely detrimental to your health for many reasons including contributing to diabetes.
While it may be tempting to save yourself time and energy by eating out a lot of the time, you should only eat restaurant foods in moderation when trying to keep diabetes under control. Eating at home is much more cost effective and you have total control over what goes into each dish.
Watch out for trans-fats. Trans fats are found in any foods containing partially hydrogenated oils. These fats are dangerous for everybody, but diabetics are at extra risk. Trans fats cause increased amounts of fat around the waistline which has been linked to heart disease. They are also extremely high in calories and low in nutritional content.
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