As a chronic illness, diabetes affects millions of people around the globe. You can be diagnosed with it as a child or a senior citizen or at any age in between. When you need help dealing with this disease, you can turn to articles like these in order to stock up on some great diabetes-specific tips and tactics.
You can make a sandwich into a lettuce wrap, or even use it on a burger as a bun, but have you thought of doing a hot dog wrap? If you buy preservative-free hot dogs for a once-a-month treat, wrap them in a piece of lettuce to make them a bit healthier!
Keep track of your Diabetic supplies and make sure you always have a backup. Obviously, keeping a huge stock of insulin isn’t feasible as it has an expiry date, but lancets and test strips don’t! Keep enough insulin on hand so that you know you’ll use it in time, but you also will never be left without it.
If you feel someone is giving you unwelcome advice about diabetes, ask them to back off. If you do it politely they won’t be offended, and you won’t have to listen to them rattle on about things you either don’t care about or already know. If you have the knowledge to back it up then you’ll become the master of your domain!
If you have diabetes and also happen to have a sweet tooth then do not despair. Many of the candies and treats that you enjoy so much have sugar free alternatives on the market. This way you can satisfy your cravings without sacrificing or putting your health at great risk.
Reduce or stop drinking caffeinated beverages to help lower your blood sugar naturally. Drinking caffeine, such as coffee or tea, releases the hormone adrenaline that is known to raise blood glucose levels. Limit the amount of caffeine drinks to fewer than four cups a day to lower your blood sugar.
If you have diabetes, it is important that you include a certain amount of carbs in your diet. Diets that do not have carbohydrates or small amounts of it can cause a diabetic not to get the vitmains and nutrients that they need in order to control their diabetic symptoms.
Join a support group for those with diabetes. It’s not because you don’t fit in anywhere else, it’s because talking to others with your condition will help you to feel that you aren’t quite alone in the world. Other people are going through what you are going through and a support group can help.
Make sure that your blood glucose levels do not get too low when taking medications for diabetes. It is common for certain medications to lower your blood sugar so low that a person can suffer from hypoglycemia. If this happens to you, talk to your doctor about lowering the dosage of your medication.
Though it is not commonly known, sleep apnea can be a serious health disadvantage that is associated with those suffering from diabetes. This problem makes you temporarily stop breathing while sleeping due to airway constriction. If you are fatigued during the day, you need to have your doctor check you for sleep apnea.
If you are planning to travel via plane, take additional precautions to protect your insulin during the trip. If your insulin is in a piece of luggage that is checked, you risk that it is exposed to especially hot or cold, even freezing, temperatures. Always keep it with you when you fly.
It is OK to give into temptation every once in a while. No one is perfect and to keep you from feeling like you are missing out on life too much, you should let yourself have a little bit. Just be sure that it does not become too much of a habit.
When you’re diabetic it can be very useful to carry around some emergency food. Whether it’s just a bar of granola or a candy bar, this can be life saving as it keeps up your blood sugar and reduces the risk of having a glucose deficit. When you have a glucose deficit it’s very possible to lose track of time and get confused.
Control when and how much you eat. Try to eat meals and snacks at the same time every day. Eating at the same time will keep your blood sugar regulated and make it easier to maintain. How much you eat is important because even if you eat healthy, but overeat, you can gain weight.
It is safe for you to reuse your lancets and syringes if the needles are in good condition. You may not want to do this if you have sensitive fingers and skin but if you have a high pain threshold, you are surely going to be fine to do this. You will want to keep them very clean between uses.
There is really no need to swab your skin with an alcohol swab before you give yourself an injection. The alcohol is going to dry your skin out and that could cause the injections to be more painful. If you are prone to infections, you may want to continue to swab before the injection to prevent infection.
Properly care for any scrapes or injuries you incur. Diabetes makes it difficult for your body to heal, and it also increases the likelihood that you will get an infection, so it is important to take care of even minor injuries right away. Always clean them and apply an antibiotic cream. Go to the doctor if your wound does not improve.
Avoid processed foods. It is recommended that you shop the perimeter of your local grocery store if you have diabetes. This means you need to stick to fresh foods. Shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh meats, fresh baked goods. Avoid foods that are overly processed. If you do buy processed foods, carefully read the ingredients.
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