You'll Be Tops With These Diabetes Tips

Being diagnosed with diabetes can be frightening and confusing. You may not know anything about the disease beyond thinking it has something to do with sugar, daily injections, and even amputations. There are things you can do to make life with diabetes easier, and things everyone should know about the disease. Here is some advice below.

Diabetics are recommended to increase their intake of cinnamon as it's been shown in scientific studies to keep blood sugar from spiking during a meal. I love to add it to oatmeal or cereal, and I also bake banana muffins with at least one tablespoon of sugar each so I know I'll get my recommended daily dose.

You can make a sandwich into a lettuce wrap, or even use it on a burger as a bun, but have you thought of doing a hot dog wrap? If you buy preservative-free hot dogs for a once-a-month treat, wrap them in a piece of lettuce to make them a bit healthier!

Reduce or stop drinking caffeinated beverages to help lower your blood sugar naturally. Drinking caffeine, such as coffee or tea, releases the hormone adrenaline that is known to raise blood glucose levels. Limit the amount of caffeine drinks to fewer than four cups a day to lower your blood sugar.

Find out what your blood glucose target levels should be and ensure that you're meeting them. Diabetes control means knowing what you're up against, so keep a journal with your goal numbers listed so you can easily see how well you're doing every day. Once you have your blood glucose under control you'll feel immensely healthier!

A great way to save money and still eat healthy is to plan out all your meals. If you can reuse a food bought in bulk multiple times, like a loaf of bread or a specific vegetable, you'll be able to save money on the purchase. Plan out every meal to make the most of your grocery buys.

In addition to eating healthy foods, you should also remember to eat food regularly. Instead of eating huge meals two or three times a day like most people do, eat smaller meals spaced out through the day. Doing so will keep your blood sugar at normal levels and regulate hunger.

Get educated about your condition. The more information you have about diabetes, the better you are equipped to handle it. By educating yourself more, you can in turn educate others including family members and friends. They may not be sure how to handle diabetes and aren't sure about how they may be able to help you one day.

Diabetes can affect the eyes, so make sure you are seeing an eye doctor regularly to catch any complications before they become worse. Be aware of any changes in your vision; diabetes can damage the nerves in the eyes so stay vigilant about any changes you see.

There are many tasty snack ideas for diabetics; you just need to find the items you like. How about an apple with peanut butter? - weird but wondeful! A great alternative to peanut butter is almond butter, which is great on high-fiber crackers like ones made with rye flour. Or make your own snack mix out of a variety of nuts and dried fruit! Try grapes and feta cheese with balsamic vinegar.

When a certain food allows it, add vinegar to it if you are a dietetic. Research has shown that vinegar inhibit starch digestion and allows food to stay in the stomach longer. In turn, this helps to reduce the chances of your blood glucose levels from rising after you have eaten a meal.

If you want to choose a treat that might be high in sugar, go for an item that is also high in protein. For example, ice cream has a lot of protein to help you break down the sugar in it. Another option is cheesecake with a high fiber crust. Yogurt with berries can also be a great treat, especially if you use non-fat unsweetened yogurt like kefir.

Learn what foods have a high-glycemic index sweet like cookies, sugar-laden soft drinks, as well as carbohydrate filled breads. Cereals, and pastas are all high-glycemic index foods. These foods can cause your blood sugar to rise very quickly, usually referred to as a spike. Stick to the perimeter of the store, with fresh produce and meats, and avoid heavily processed foods.

To stay prepared for drops in your blood sugar levels, pack glucose boosting snacks in zip-lock bags. Carrying around some low fat trail mix or cashews will ensure you're never stuck without a healthy snack to give you a boost. If you don't carry a purse, small snacks can easily be stored in a pocket.

Bollu (Diabetics may find their health is better when they plan for up to six smaller meals per day, rather than three large ones. When you eat often during the day, you will be able to better control your blood sugar.)