When you have diabetes, you must be sure to manage it effectively so you can prevent any of the negative effects of the disease from happening to you. There are some critical steps you need to take today so that your disease can be kept under control. Here are just a few vital suggestions to make sure you are taking care of yourself in the best way possible.
1. Beware of foods that contain hidden sugars.
Are you aware that the body recognizes fruit as sugar? It is alright to eat some fruit in moderation, but fruit juices have a lot of sugar in them that you might not expect. There are other foods that contain more sugar than you might think at first. It is important that you read labels and know exactly what the sugar content is.
2. Keep your doctor appointments and visit regularly.
If you have diabetes, after a while you figure that you know your disease better than the doctor does. You may think of just skipping doctor appointments. However, it is critical that you see the doctor, because a doctor can notice things that you cannot. In addition, he can schedule tests that are important to your health and your disease. A doctor can help you be absolutely sure you are on the right track instead of simply assuming that you are.
3. Avoid drinking too much alcohol.
Alcohol enters the body as pure sugar. When you flood the body this way, your body reacts accordingly. If you must have alcohol, keep it to very small amounts. Make sure that someone else is around in case you have a bad reaction, or at least make sure you are able to get to help if you need to.
4. Eat a healthy diet.
You may have already driven yourself crazy looking for a diabetes diet, but the truth is that there is not one diet that is suited to diabetics. Diabetics can eat whatever kinds of foods they like if they keep it in moderation. If you eat a carbohydrate your body will recognize as sugar. It is important to to pair the carbohydrate with protein, which can slow down the release of sugar into your blood. Be sure to eat complex carbohydrates, which break down slower in your body. Eat foods high in fiber, which also works similarly.
5. Watch out for your feet.
Diabetics often have trouble with their feet because diabetes affects blood circulation. Sometimes they lose feeling in their feet, so it is important to keep an eye on them. Keep your feet clean and look carefully for any sores or cuts. Always test the warmth of water with your hands before putting your feet in the water. Have your feet examined by a podiatrist at least once a year.
As you can see, there are a lot of things you can do to take care of your diabetes. Follow these important tips and you will find that you can manage your diabetes much easier.