Use resources like the internet to find diabetes lifestyle recipes. Many diabetics get frustrated because they cannot find recipes for meals that are diabetic friendly. There are many substitutions to foods that taste just as good as the original including sugar-free chocolates, healthy kinds of pasta, sugar-free ice creams and cakes.
Blood glucose monitoring is an important part of keeping track of your diabetes and will assist you to keep tabs on whether insulin is required and this, in turn, will minimize any long term health complications. Your medical professional will let you know how often you need to test yourself and it is vital you follow their advice. Checking your glucose levels has never been easier thanks to advancements in technology.
Because blood glucose monitors are fairly inexpensive (companies make their money on the strips), it is a good idea to have several monitors to make testing more convenient. Put them in all the places you normally "test" - your bedroom, kitchen, and office. This will ensure you always have a monitor nearby and lessen the hassle of testing.
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, I am sure you know how to check your blood sugar. You should check it before meals and at bedtime. This insures that if there is a sudden change in your blood sugar levels, you know in advance to address the situation in a timely fashion lest an emergency arise.
When you have diabetes, foot problems are always a concern. Always make sure you are wearing the correct shoes so that you do not develop any of these problems. Shoes with proper ventilation are essential. The more air that gets to your feet the better circulation you will get. Sandals are important for summer weather.
Make your diabetes care into a habit in your life. Many habits are very hard to break once you have adapted to them and the same goes for a diabetes habit. Check your blood sugar levels at the same area of the house at the same time each day and treat it as needed.
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 an once-a-month treat, wrap them in a piece of lettuce to make them a bit healthier!
Make sure that you wear socks when you are going to go for a walk if you have diabetes. Wearing socks help to protect against blisters, which can have many negative side effects for a person with diabetes. Try not to wear white socks, they retain too much sweat.
Avoid alcohol. Alcohol is a carbohydrate, breaking down very quickly into sugars, having a negative effect on your blood sugar levels. It acts in the same way as chocolate, quickly elevating the blood sugar and then quickly dropping it back down. This can cause symptoms such as weakness, dizziness and sweating. Alcohol can also result in dehydration, which in turn increases the concentration of sugar in the bloodstream. This can have an impact on the effectiveness of your insulin dosage.
Be careful to not rely on diabetes candy bars and shakes too often. Although they are good for people on the go, they do not replace eating a meal. If you end up eating the candy bars or drinking the shakes too much, you could actually cause your blood glucose level to go too high.
Diabetes being so common means that the information about how to manage it is abundant. However, information alone will not help you to control the disease. You will still have to work to apply the advice, like what you've just read above, if you want to stay in front of the illness.
Author Resource:
The author, Dee is a mother and wife and she has a Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus - but is experiencing a normal diabetes lifestyle . She is constantly studying anything about diabetes and would love to share what she finds out with some others who also has diabetes.