Managing To Live Comfortably With Your Diabetes
A diagnosis of diabetes is probably amongst one of the hardest ones to swallow. With no cure, and a plethora of treatments that must be done on a daily basis it can be overwhelming. Don’t be overwhelmed though. With the right knowledge it is a very manageable disease, and one can live quite a normal life.
To be sensitive to those with diabetes, use diabetic friendly recipes anytime you have guests over and you are cooking. Instead of asking if anyone has diabetes, just assume everyone at the table does. Even non-diabetics are sure to enjoy tasty yet healthy cooking that leaves them feeling great but not bloated.
Do not eat meats that are high in fat if you have diabetes. These meats can raise your glucose levels which can cause many serious health problems. Most supermarkets sell lean meats that have the same taste but are healthier for your diabetes. Also, try to stick with low-fat dairy products.
If you suffer from diabetes, take excellent care of your teeth and dental hygiene. Visit your dentist and hygienist regularly for cleanings and examinations to make sure any early stages of gum disease are diagnosed and treated quickly. Also, be sure to brush and floss carefully and monitor your gums and mouth for any sores or abrasions.
A good tip for the diabetic sufferer is to have a consistent eating schedule. Have breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks at as close to the same time every day as possible. This will help you more accurately monitor changes in blood sugar levels throughout the day, allowing you to dose your insulin more accordingly.
Properly care for any scrapes or injuries you incur. Diabetes makes it difficult for your body to heal, and it also increases the likelihood that you will get an infection, so it is important to take care of even minor injuries right away. Always clean them and apply an antibiotic cream. Go to the doctor if your wound does not improve.
Diabetes affects your risk of heart disease, so to lower this risk, consider taking an aspirin every day. Diabetics are at higher risk of heart disease because the platelets in their blood may tend to form clumps more easily, which can lead to heart attacks. Aspirin can counter this risk. Ask your doctor if you should add aspirin to your daily treatment routine, since you should avoid aspirin if you have conditions like bleeding ulcers.
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.
In conclusion, while diabetes is indeed one of the hardest diseases to manage, it isn’t necessarily a death sentence. Sure it does require a lot of lifestyle changes, but nothing so out of the ordinary that it will utterly ruin your life. Accept your diagnosis, and the advice from this article, and live more relaxed.