Things You Must Know When It Comes To Diabetes
Diabetes is a very common disease and we all probably know at least one person who is currently dealing with this disease. If you receive the news that you have diabetes, you will need to know how to fight back against it. Check out these useful tips to fight the disease.When starting an exercise plan to lose weight and get your Diabetes in check, find a partner to work out with. If you are going to work out together then you can make sure that both of you always show up, and then watching each other exercise helps ensure that you each are doing the exercises correctly.
The best thing a person can do to avoid diabetes is to exercise. People who exercise 30 to 60 minutes per day, at least 5 days per week, can lower their risk of developing diabetes by almost 50 percent. Exercise improves the health of your heart and lungs, reduces stress, reduces fat, increases metabolism and lowers blood sugar levels.
Do not skip meals, especially breakfast. When you let too much time lapse between meals or skip a meal completely, you risk having your blood glucose levels drop too low. Diabetics who eat breakfast, lunch and dinner without skipping any meals are much more likely to have normal glucose readings.
Walmart and Costco both provide prescriptions at a discounted cost which can save you a lot of money on your Diabetes medications. They also have Diabetic supplies like monitors, lancets, test strips and syringes and they're carried in bulk at Costco. You can also find pamphlets at both pharmacies with information on Diabetes.
The Dispensary of Hope can provide you with your Diabetes medications at a discount as long as you can prove that you are in financial distress and are uninsured. You can contact them through their website (dispensaryofhope.org) for more information on programs in your area, and how you can get qualified for their services.
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.
If you feel like speaking with others who have diabetes, you may want to join a local diabetes support group. Many hospitals and health clinics around the country have these groups so that people can speak with others with the condition and share advice about how to live a healthy life with diabetes.
Always have some sugar available, just in case your sugar level runs low. This could be in the form of glucose tablets, orange juice or candy. Instruct your family and friends about where your sugar is in case you ever have a hypoglycemic episode and need it right away. This way you'll be able to bring yourself out of hypoglycemia without going to the hospital.
If you notice that your urinary ketone levels are uncommonly high, this may indicate that your body is especially low on insulin levels. Your body is being forced to process sugar, rather than fat as fuel for your body from day to day, or as part of your fasting efforts. Consult your physician if ketone levels continue to rise as this may be indicative of a condition called ketoacidosis.
Make sure that your blood glucose levels do not get too low when taking medications for diabetes. It is common for certain medications to lower your blood sugar so low that a person can suffer from hypoglycemia. If this happens to you, talk to your doctor about lowering the dosage of your medication.
Check your blood sugar levels regularly. It is possible to have dangerously high or low blood sugar without showing any symptoms. Having a persistently high blood sugar count can cause you to have an increased risk of developing kidney failure, circulation problems, heart disease stroke, and even blindness. Make sure you keep a record of your numbers as well, to watch for trends and sugar spikes.
To make sure you choose the right carbohydrates, avoid white foods. White bread, pasta, or rice are all made from refined carbohydrates, which means they are also high glycemic index foods. Getting your carbohydrates from whole wheat products will ensure that your glucose levels stay stable, and that your body is able to digest them properly.
People with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing heart disease than others so they should try to eat food that contain fatty acids, which are very good for the heart. A good way to get those essential acids in your system is to have fish at least twice a week.
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.