Managing your diabetes should be a priority if you have been diagnosed with this condition. Read this article if you are not sure what you can do to keep your diabetes under control.
Do not let complications scare you. Diabetics are more likely to develop infections, gum disease or to become blind because of their condition, but you can prevent these conditions from appearing if you keep your sugar level down. Take action as quickly as possible to transform your lifestyle. You should focus on making one change at a time and find a way to manage your stress if your diabetes worries you.
Learn as much as possible about diabetes. Ask some questions to your doctor and find a few books on this topic. You should also find a local non-profit organization that focuses on helping diabetics. You will get access to a lot of educational resources through non-profit organizations and get a chance to meet people who are struggling with the same problems. The Internet is also a great place to do research about diabetes and nutrition.
Make some important changes to your diet. A lot of individuals who develop diabetes end up with this condition because of an unhealthy lifestyle. If this is your case, adopting a healthy diet should be a priority. Learn more about nutrition and the five food groups so you can prepare healthy meals. Avoid eating at fast food restaurants and stay away from snacks, processed foods and sugary drinks. If possible, always eat your meals at the same time. Have several small meals throughout the day instead of three large meals.
If you are overweight, reaching a healthy weight will make your diabetes easier to manage. Try losing two pounds a week by exercising regularly. Talk to your doctor about exercising and make sure you are healthy enough to get some exercise regularly. You might have to lose a few pounds before you can safely exercise. Find some workouts you really enjoy to easily commit to your exercise program. Start with light exercising, for instance, by going for walks or doing some aerobics.
You should check your sugar level regularly throughout your day. Carry the testing supplies you need and your insulin with you at all times. Put together some emergency bags you can keep at work or at a friend's house in case you run out of supplies and are away from home. Get into the habit of checking your sugar level every two or three hours. Check it again before and after eating or exercising. Take action right away if you need to correct your blood sugar level, either by using some insulin or eating a healthy snack. Your blood sugar should not spike as often once you adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Managing your diabetes is a possibility if you are ready to make some major changes to your lifestyle. You should use these tips and meet with your doctor to discuss the strategies you can use to prevent complications from appearing.