You never really know what to expect in life. Just when things are seemingly going well, something like diabetes can come along and derail everything. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, learn how to manage your lifestyle and the disease by reading these tips below and applying them where necessary.
A great way to manage diabetes naturally, without having to rely on medications is to get plenty of exercise. By exercising regularly, you will burn calories, which will result in a healthy weight. Exercising will also help your body respond to insulin, which is key to controlling diabetes. Exercise also helps improve your body’s circulation, which is another issue that diabetics usually face. Overall, exercise is an important factor in controlling diabetes.
When you’re on a plane it can be hard for a Diabetic to keep their feet moving. Try to do little exercises while you sit, like moving your foot up and down or turning it in circles. Keep wiggling your toes to ensure your circulation gets blood right down to your tippy-toes.
It is important for diabetics to take their insulin or other medications at the same time each day. Your doctor gave you this medication to control your diabetes and its symptoms and forgetting to take your medications or taking them at different times can raise your insulin or blood sugar.
If you’re diabetic, beware coupons! Most coupons to be found, are often, for items that aren’t healthy, like pop, crackers or chips. Do not use a coupon just because you have it! You might save 50 cents today, but the cost of medications to deal with an obesity-related illness later, will add up to much more.
In addition to eating healthy foods, you should also remember to eat food regularly. Instead of eating huge meals two or three times a day like most people do, eat smaller meals spaced out through the day. Doing so will keep your blood sugar at normal levels and regulate hunger.
Diabetics should make sure to always wear socks to bed and wear slippers or shoes inside the house. You’ll want to both provide shock absorption for your feet as well as protection from stepping on something sharp or damaging. Diabetes can lead to an increased susceptibility to infection, so be extra careful!
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.
Eat a well-balanced diet. Since there is no official diabetes diet, it’s important that you handle your condition by eating a healthy diet that is high in fruits, vegetables and lean meats and low in fat, sugar and simple carbohydrates. If you eat everything in moderation and are controlling your diabetes through medication, you should have fairly stable blood glucose levels.
What you’ve just learned from the tips above is that diabetes can be controlled with the right information and the right amount of effort on your part. Now that you’ve learned more about the disease and what you can do to control it, the next logical step is to apply the information and formulate a plan of action.