Learn As Much As You Can On The Subject Of Diabetes

It is imperative that diabetics use extreme caution to avoid any type of foot injury. A secondary and sometimes, overlooked condition caused by diabetes is a weakening of small blood vessels. These weakened vessels are unable to transport oxygen and nutrients necessary for healing. In such cases, an infection can get so bad that the toes or foot may require amputation.

Pay attention to the feeling in your feet and hands by testing them once in a while. Go barefoot on the floor and see if you can feel the grout between the tiles. When you're in the shower, drop something and step on it so you can see how well you feel it. Do the same when holding a pencil or pen. If you feel any loss of sensation, go to your doctor and let them know!

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.

It is important that you drink plenty of water each day if you have diabetes. Becoming dehydrated when you are diabetic can cause your blood sugar levels to go through the roof. The general rule of thumb is that you should drink one ounce of water for every 2.5 pounds of your body weight, each day.

If you find that your A1C levels are disproportionately higher than your typical blood glucose levels, the problem may be that you are measuring your pre-meal levels, which does not give you an accurate reading. Your average levels may not accurately reflect readings that are taken before, during, and after eating your meals.

If you see ANY damage to the skin on your feet and you have Diabetes you must let your podiatrist know as soon as possible! He'll be able to tell you what to use to keep it clean and free of infection, and prescribe you an antibiotic cream or gel if necessary.

Educate your family on what to do if your blood sugar drops or spikes to dangerous levels. A diabetic has to battle their disease with the help of family and friends, so ensure they know the symptoms to keep watch for in case you end up in a situation where you can't control it yourself.

It is important for anyone with diabetes to check their blood sugar regularly. How often you check your blood sugar depends on your doctor's instructions, but it should be done. Checking your blood sugar allows you to see what foods raise your levels. This makes it easier to catch level spikes.

For people who suffer from diabetes, try to take a multivitamin with minerals, Vitamin C and Chromium every day. These have all been proven to help keep your blood sugar at a reasonable level. Just remember that these should be taken along with medications, not as a substitute for them.

Be aware of what you are drinking. Many carbonated drinks and juices are made with high-fructose corn syrup, which is not good for anyone, let alone those with diabetes. These types of beverages are loaded with sugar (and thus, a lot of calories) that will leave you wanting more. Water should be your best friend!

At every grocery store you walk into today, you will be able to find bars or shakes that are for diabetics. If you find that you are having trouble controlling your blood glucose levels when you are out and about, carry these with you at all times for an easy and safe meal on the go.

Protect your eyes! If you are Diabetic, keep your blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible to lower your risk of developing a Diabetes related eye disease. Diabetes is actually one of the primary causes of developing blindness! It affects the blood vessels at the back of the eye. Surgery can be performed to correct eye damage, if it's caught early! However, the best way - to prevent eye disease - is to consistently keep your blood sugar reasonable!

If you are a diabetic seeking exercise, make sure that you stay away from any exercises that require the weight lifting and pushing or pulling heavy objects. During this kind of exercise, blood pressure and blood sugar levels are raised which can lead to many harmful health factors. To be on the safe side, avoid such exercises and keep your lifting to a minimum.

Know that being sick can affect your blood glucose level. Being sick stresses your body out, and when your body stresses out it creates more glucose. In fact, both physical and mental stress could affect it. So to help you monitor your levels, you should check your blood glucose level more often on days that you are sick.

Keep protein bars on hand for those times when you need a quick snack to keep your blood glucose levels under control. There are bars or shakes on the market made specifically for those with diabetes and they can be used as a meal replacement. Don't eat them along with a regular meal, however, and this could cause your glucose levels to rise.

Do not wait until you are completely out of the supplies that you need to treat and test your blood sugar. There are far too many risks involved with waiting until you used the last syringe or the last dose of insulin. Get up and get out and pick more up and you will be happy that you did it ahead of time.

There are so many great informational references to turn to when you want to learn about your disease. You are going to benefit from all of the information that you find. Take the time to learn the ABC's of diabetes as soon as you get your diagnosis from your doctor.

It is important to take proper care of diabetic feet. Any type of foot injury, no matter how small, should be immediately reported to a physician who can assess and treat the issue. Even the smallest sore on the foot can turn into an ulcer, creating a severe problem for a diabetic.

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