Health and Wellness Tips - Tips for Living with Diabetes

Tips for Living with Diabetes

Special care for your health is a vital part of living with diabetes. Upon diagnosis, it can seem an overwhelming burden to fit diabetes control into your schedule. However, it is crucial to take your medicine at the same time each day, exercise, and pat attention to your feet. What can you do to help maintain a healthy lifestyle and enable you to live successfully with your diabetes? Here are a few things you can do to help.

The most important item on this list is to regularly monitor your blood glucose levels. This is the way to avoid complications from diabetes and remain healthy. Your blood glucose levels should be below 120 mg/dl prior to meals, and 180 mg/dl following meals. Take all of your medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor. They should be taken as directed and at the same time each day. These medications generally should be taken close to regular meal times. You need to drink at least 64 ounces of water each day. Any decaffeinated beverage can be included in the calculation of your water intake. Be careful to restrict how much alcohol and caffeine you consume during the day.

Be sure your diet includes carbohydrates, fats (good fats), and lean protein, also be sure to eat plenty of fresh vegetables. In addition to helping your diabetes, a healthy diet will also reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease as well as other serious diseases. A multivitamin should be included in your healthy living plan. The vitamin you choose should include antioxidants, zinc, betacarotenoids, and selenium.

Foot care is very important if you have diabetes. It may not sound like a big problem, but it can become one if you have sores on your feet that become infected. Carefully examine your feet regularly such as, after each bath or before bed. It may be helpful to use a mirror to examine the soles of your feet. Clean and dry them carefully, taking special care to thoroughly dry between the toes. If you use foot lotion, do not apply lotion between your toes. You will need to visit your doctor if you have a sore that does not begin healing in a few days. Wear appropriately-sized shoes and socks to provide protection for your feet.

It is important to regularly brush and floss your teeth to prevent gum disease. Gum disease is often suffered by diabetic patients. Elevated cholesterol and cardiovascular disease are also associated with gum disease. Be sure to get sufficient regular sleep. It has been proven that insufficient sleep can contribute to Type 2 diabetes. It is recommended to get between seven to eight hours of sleep per night. Keeping routine sleeping and waking hours will help as well. Go to sleep at nearly the same time each night, and awake at a regular time each morning.

Exercise is one of the most important things anyone can to for their health and diabetics are no exception. Move your body; it will reduce your blood glucose levels, help you deal with stress, lowers cholesterol, benefits to your heart, and will elevate your mood. Play a round of golf, take a walk, or march in place during commercials. Even slow walking has benefits. Any amount of exercise is superior to no exercise at all.