Keeping up with the latest news, tips and tactics dealing with diabetes is a great way to stay out in front of the disease and to ensure that you're doing whatever is necessary to fight against the affliction. Read the tips in the article below if you need to know what you can do to improve your life if you have diabetes.
If you love to have a sandwich, but can't afford the carbohydrates that come with the bread, make a lettuce wrap! Diabetics who need to keep their weight in check will avoid eating the part of the sandwich which is bad for you, while having the fresh, crispy crunch of lettuce. It's so tasty!
If you feel the need for a side dish with dinner, skip the potato chips and reach for a bag of corn chips. Whole grain tortilla chips provide a ton of fiber while being really tasty. Dip them in salsa to get some vegetables, fruit, and a dose of vinegar, which will keep your blood sugar levels from spiking.
Check you cholesterol level as well as blood pressure! If you have Diabetes, blood sugar is not the only thing you need to keep and eye on. Diabetes can increase the likelihood of bad cholesterol being high in your blood, so you need to keep track of that - even if you're not eating - fatty fried foods. Blood pressure can also be increased, leading to headaches, faintness, and even strokes.
It's okay to reuse lancets on your blood glucose monitor, or syringes when you inject yourself with insulin. As long as you're not sharing then there is next to no real danger in reusing either, so change them when they begin to hurt you, or at least once a month.
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.
Diabetes causes you higher blood-glucose levels, which also affects how much glucose is in your saliva. You have to take extra care of your gums and teeth to keep the rot and decay away. Floss and brush regularly, and make sure to see your dentist twice a year for cleaning.
If you have recently found out that you have diabetes, you may want to see a nutritionist. There are certain foods that a diabetic should and should not be eating. A nutritionist can give you a diet plan to follow and tell you where you can purchase these special foods.
Using an online pharmacy can help you save money on your prescription diabetes medications. You can usually set up a regular delivery schedule, so that you can't forget to order it.
Make sure to regularly check your blood sugar and write it in a log if you are diabetic. It is important that you do this because your blood sugar may be fine and a few hours later it could be dangerously high. Blood sugar that is consistently high raises your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Try to avoid alcohol when you are diabetic. Even small amounts of alcohol, especially beer, can dangerously raise your blood sugar. Many doctors are in agreement that having a glass of wine once in awhile is okay for diabetics, just do not have more than one glass and do not drink it everyday.
Some Diabetics can have a loss of sensation in their feet, so don't use yours to check the temperature of water you're planning on getting into! You could cause major damage by stepping into extremely hot water and scalding or burning your skin, so use your elbow to test instead.
If you are a diabetic who has never smoked, or who has not smoked in 6 months, you may want to talk with your doctor about using an inhaled insulin treatment. Recent medical studies have shown that inhaled insulin may be more effective in treating diabetes than pills or injections.
If you have diabetes, a great tip is to make sure you get a proper amount of sleep. If your amount of sleep is poor, it can mess with your hormones and lead to an increased appetite and elevated blood sugar. Research has shown that just one night of poor sleep can increase your insulin sensitivity by up to 25 percent. So make sure you get some sleep.
To avoid sugar but still sweeten your food, ask about neotame. Neotame is an FDA approved sweetener that has been confirmed safe for sufferers of diabetes. Neotame is extremely sweet, so only a small amount needs to be used. This will allow you to curb your sweet tooth without jeopardizing your health.
When it comes to dealing with diabetes be sure that you organize any questions or comments that you have for a professional before meeting with them. This is important to make sure that your visit goes smoothly and to ensure that you get answers to all that you have questions about.
If you're looking to help balance your blood sugar levels, eat more whole grain foods. While no one is completely certain why it works, research indicates that whole grains are good for maintaining healthy blood sugar and also for reducing a person's risk of developing diabetes. An easy way to include more whole grains in your diet is to switch at least half the grain products you eat -- like pasta and bread -- to whole grain versions.
Staying out in front of this disease and avoiding the potential complications is what it's all about. Diabetes takes a lot of management, and thus it's easy to allow your treatments to lapse. Use the tips you've learned in this article to increase your overall awareness and to ramp up the fight against the disease.