What You Should Know About Your Diabetes
Diabetes is a common condition among many people. Over the years, the number of people who have diabetes has grown, with people even getting the condition at younger ages. Diabetes can be caused by genetics, but it can also be caused by poor dietary and lifestyle choices. To avoid diabetes, use the advice from the following article.
Call your insurance company after you are diagnosed with Diabetes to see if they offer any assistance to help you get it under control. Health insurance providers want you to file as few claims as possible, so getting your Diabetes in check will save them money. Often they will offer you services that wouldn’t be covered otherwise, so call and find out!
Do not eat snacks out of a bag. By eating snacks directly from its container, you are more likely to overeat and create a spike in your blood sugar levels. Get a plate and put a small portion on the plate. Eat it slowly, savor the flavor, and don’t get more after you have finished.
A diet too high in protein can actually be harmful to diabetics. Some people think more protein is good, but studies have shown that too much animal protein can cause insulin-resistance, a factor in diabetes. Try to include proper amounts of protein, vegetables and carbohydrates to keep your diet healthy and well-balanced.
Allowing your blood glucose levels to reach dangerous lows may over time impair your ability to think clearly. In order to prevent this from happening to either yourself or a diabetic child, blood glucose levels should be monitored frequently. Your brain uses glucose for energy and nourishment, and depriving it of glucose can have a significant and long-lasting impact on it’s ability to process information and respond.
If you find that your A1C levels are disproportionately higher than your typical blood glucose levels, the problem may be that you are measuring your pre-meal levels, which does not give you an accurate reading. Your average levels may not accurately reflect readings that are taken before, during, and after eating your meals.
If you are a diabetic make sure to carefully choose your lancing device. Pick one that maximizes comfort and minimizes pain especially since you will have to be testing very frequently. The better the device is, the less reluctant you will be with your blood sugar testings which will help improve the overall quality of your care.
Replace your usual three meals with five or six smaller meals. When you eat often during the day, you will be able to better control your blood sugar. Eating more frequently also helps to decrease the risk of binging, as you will feel more satisfied.
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!
There are many tasty snack ideas for diabetics; you just need to find the items you like. How about an apple with peanut butter? – weird but wondeful! A great alternative to peanut butter is almond butter, which is great on high-fiber crackers like ones made with rye flour. Or make your own snack mix out of a variety of nuts and dried fruit! Try grapes and feta cheese with balsamic vinegar.
In conclusion, diabetes is a common condition for many people. The number of those suffering from diabetes rises each year, with younger ages contracting it. Diabetes can be genetically based, or based on dietary and lifestyle choices. By using the advice from this article, you can decrease your chances of getting diabetes.