Dealing with diabetes can sometimes be overwhelming and disheartening — but there are things you can do to fight those feelings. Try these tips for things like increasing the quality of your daily life and minimizing the chances of complications, and you’ll feel more confident about your ability to handle diabetes.
Diabetics should increase the amount of fiber in their diet to help lose weight and keep regular. Fiber also has been shown to not raise blood sugar after a meal, so it can fill you up without giving you a sugar spike. There are many fruit and vegetables which have high fiber, so try to include them in your regular meals.
Beans for breakfast, beans for tea, beans for you and beans for me! Beans are packed full of protein and fiber, which are both very important in the meals of a diabetic. Try to include as many beans and lentils in the foods you eat as possible. Just cook them up and throw them into everything, from chili to salads!
Skip the french fries and ditch the baked potato – it’s time to replace your carb-heavy side dishes with something that’s actually GOOD for a Diabetic. Salad! I’m not talking potato or pasta salad, they’re both carbohydrate disaster areas. Pick up some lettuce, shred some vegetables, throw on some tomato wedges and a nice light oil and vinegar dressing and dig in!
If you feel the need for a side dish with dinner, skip the potato chips and reach for a bag of corn chips. Whole grain tortilla chips provide a ton of fiber while being really tasty. Dip them in salsa to get some vegetables, fruit, and a dose of vinegar, which will keep your blood sugar levels from spiking.
Herbal tea is a great drink for diabetics as it contains many wonderful nutrients and can taste so good you don’t even think about adding cream or sugar. Be sure to check the ingredients as some manufacturers will add sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Increasing your intake of magnesium is not only good for your heart, it can help your diabetes too! You can find lots of magnesium in fish, leafy greens, and nuts, so include those items in your diet as often as possible. Almonds are an excellent choice to grab as a snack any time.
Find out if your state government offers neighborhood health services where you can get discounted medical treatment, supplies, and prescriptions to help you battle your Diabetes. Some states also offer discounted health insurance, which can be an even bigger help by allowing you to seek treatment in your own city or town.
Be passionate about having Diabetes and become an advocate for the disease. Type II Diabetes is preventable, and it’s costing our government billions of dollars in treatment for people who can’t afford it. You may not be one of those who are tapping the system for your care, but speaking up about what you know to help others avoid the disease will help us be able to use our money for more important things.
Even though diabetes both influences your day-to-day life and has potential long-term effects, it can be treated and controlled. These tips will help you manage your diabetes in smart, compassionate ways. Having that control will, in turn, keep you feeling good about yourself and your life no matter how tough things get sometimes.
