Living with diabetes can be very difficult if you do not know how to properly take care of yourself. There are certain things that you can do to live a more productive life, even if you have diabetes. The tips below will provide you with a little guidance to help you to understand diabetes.
Exercise is a key lifestyle habit for a diabetic person. You need to get moving as much as possible to help keep your weight at a reasonable level and your organs in tip-top shape. Try to go for a long walk after dinner or take the stairs at work instead of the elevator.
Diabetics should keep their water intake high, so take a bottle with you to save some money at the mall. You’ll find water fountains in most buildings, so make use of it and fill up. You can find collapsible bottles at many stores that literally roll up, so you can keep them in your purse or bag.
Be careful with the medicines you choose when you have a cold, many are laden with sugar which can affect your blood sugar levels. Make sure you take this into account if you’re keeping track of what you eat to maintain even blood sugar levels, or if your blood sugar mysteriously spikes.
Diabetic feet are more prone to infection than the average person’s, so check them when you shower for any cuts or bruising. One of the first symptoms of Diabetes that I had was a red speckling on the top of my feet which indicated blood pressure problems, but I didn’t notice as I always wore socks and didn’t have my glasses on in the bathroom. If you already have Diabetes, keep a watchful eye on those tootsies.
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 buying food at local farmer’s markets or at the farm itself to get discounts on healthy foods. A diet for Diabetes doesn’t have to be expensive, you just have to look for deals and sometimes shop in different locations. Eating farm fresh eggs for the first time will make you a believer!
If you are the parent of a child who is experiencing symptoms of diabetes, it is important that you bring them to a doctor immediately. Getting a child treated for diabetes at an early age can prevent them from getting serious health complications. Signs of diabetes in children include excessive thirst, wetting themselves frequently, and frequent respiratory infections.
Be sure you have a bedtime snack. This will help to make sure you have enough glucose to get you through the night and that your glucose is stable while you sleep. It will also help to make sure you don’t feel the need to get up at night and raid your fridge.
The key to a Diabetic diet isn’t necessarily cutting anything out completely, but instead is about counting up what is in that food item and eating it in an appropriate moderation. For example, having a slice of cake can be fine as long as you work it into your meal and have a smaller piece than you might have pre-diagnosis.
The steps that have been provided, should be a great starting point for your diabetic journey. It is possible to live a somewhat normal life, even with diabetes, if you take control of the situation and make the correct choices, right away. Only you can control your journey with diabetes.