What People Should Know When It Comes To Diabetes

Educating yourself on the subject of diabetes should be your number-one priority if you have been diagnosed with the disease. Before you can properly treat it, you need to know exactly what you're dealing with. Here are a collection of tips you can use to assist in the fight against diabetes.

Feel free to ask your doctor any question about Diabetes you might have, from how it affects your bowel movements to if it can cause sexual dysfunction (yes, it can!) No question should be too embarrassing or uneducated for you to feel comfortable finding the answer to as your doctor is there to help!

If you're Diabetic, don't overeat simply because your sugar is low. A single pack of sugary candy or a glucose tab is a much safer and more controlled method of bringing your sugar level back up. If you overeat in reaction to a low, you're likely to spike your sugar instead of bringing it back to normal.

A Diabetic will need more than just a physician on his health care team. You should ask for a referral to an endocrinologist (they'll help you with your insulin), a registered dietitian or nutritionist, an optometrist or ophthalmologist, a dentist, and a podiatrist. Once you have them all on your team you'll be ready to fight Diabetes head on!

Eat foods rich in fiber. By eating fruits, vegetables, and grains you will improve your diet. You will lose weight and feel great. Fiber can help give you more control over your blood sugar and lower your chances of getting heart disease. Other sources of fiber include nuts, seeds, and beans.

The risk of getting diabetes can be reduced by having a diet that is high in fiber. Eating more whole grain foods will reduce your intake of high glycemic foods like white bread and processed foods which will increase your your risk. Research demonstrates that diets rich in whole grain are at lesser risk of suffering diabetes.

Ask your Physician if they have any supply samples of your Diabetes medication or syringes. It is unlikely they will have monitors to give you, or test strips or lancets for that matter, but you can get those from your pharmacist instead. They often have monitors for free, so make sure to ask!

It is important that you know how to use your insulin pump. Many people do not get the proper amount of insulin because they are not using their pump correctly. If you do not know what you are doing, do not feel ashamed to ask your doctor or another health professional, for help.

If you are a diabetic, it is crucial that you have your blood pressure checked regularly. Diabetes can increase the risk of developing high blood pressure, which can lead to serious health problems, like strokes. Try to buy a home blood pressure machine or go to a pharmacy to check it yourself.

If you're often too tired in the morning to make breakfast, figure something out that you can do while you're half asleep. A diabetic MUST eat in the morning, so try something like a protein shake or a muffin and an apple. Pour yourself a tall glass of milk to go along with it!

To better maintain your blood sugars, drink only water. Most other beverages are high in sugar, and diet soda can lead to dehydration, which can also cause your blood sugar levels to spike. Carrying around bottled water and drinking it regularly will help you keep your blood sugar levels where they're supposed to be.

You should take insulin that is fast-acting one to 15 minutes before eating a meal, unless a doctor advises you differently. These types of insulin will help to maintain blood sugar, as long as they are used properly and as directed by a physician.

Be sure to pack an insulated bag that can hold your insulin if you are a diabetic and you are going to be traveling. Insulin needs to be set at the right temperature, so an insulated bag will make sure that it doesn't get too cold or hot.

If your doctor approaches you about starting to take insulin, do not respond negatively without first listening to the reasoning of a medical professional. While you may know someone who developed complications from taking insulin, understand that the complications from allowing diabetes to go unchecked can be significantly more damaging, even life-threatening.

If you are diabetic and you smoke it is important that you take the steps to quit smoking. Smoking causes your circulation to be poor, and a proper circulatory system is absolutely essential for a diabetic. Talk to your doctor for help quitting smoking, there are many aids to help.

Afraid of diabetes? Its time to start exercising. Not only will we get that body that we always wanted if we exercise, but also we will lessen our chance of getting diabetes. Every calorie we burn on that treadmill can add time to our life. If you are looking for reasons to exercise think of how much you can extend your life by dedicating that 30 minutes everyday.

If you are a diabetic, you need to stick to the American Diabetic Association diet and consume your meals on a regular basis. Aim for three meals a day with two healthy snacks in between. This will keep you feeling more satiated, give you more energy and maintain more stable levels of blood sugar throughout the day.

If you have diabetes, it is important to get the right amount of sleep. Sleeping too much and not sleeping long enough can both affect how much you crave food. If you give in to those cravings, you will gain weight, and you will be at risk for other complications. Try to get around eight hours of sleep each night.

After reading these tips, you now have a powerful tool at your disposal -- information. What's important now is that you use this tool to build a strong defense against diabetes. This disease might not seem very serious now, but a failure to manage it properly can be devastating. Don't find out the hard way; use what you've learned here and work to stay healthy.