You Can Have Diabetes And Stay Healthy

The diagnosis of diabetes can seem quite scary at first but as you learn more, you realize that it can be managed. You dont have to change your entire life. You can make adjustments and take better care of yourself but that is a good thing to do anyway. This article can help you develop the right attitude about diabetes and you.

If your child is diagnosed with Diabetes, make keeping track of their blood sugar fun. Have a contest where they get a reward for doing their blood sugar on time every day for a certain number of days, like a trip to the toy store or an hour at the park.

Diabetics need to avoid ketchup like the plague. I know its tasty, I love it to death, but its so full of sugar both from the tomatoes and the high fructose corn syrup that its more of a curse than a pleasure. I like to replace it with yellow mustard as it has little to no sugar added.

You can get a free blood glucose meter from your pharmacy just by asking. They usually have coupons or rebates so that you can get the latest model at no cost, the caveat is that youll be buying their brand of blood test strips for the rest of your life.

Exercise

If your parent has been diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, it is important that you help them in changing their diet and exercise rituals. Support them by bringing them healthy treats, like fruit salad, instead of cakes or cookies. When you visit their house, why not go for a long walk with them?

If you have Diabetes, then your children are more susceptible to the disease themselves. Make sure that any diet changes you make are reflected by the eating habits of your children, and that you include them in the exercise you do. Its more fun to make the changes in your life if everyone has some input.

A Diabetic needs to have eight good hours of sleep every night to be well-rested, alert, and healthy. People who get enough sleep tend to be able to lose weight, probably because they have the energy to exercise and lack the apathy that can lead to less than healthy eating choices.

Nutrition

Want a tasty treat that wont be forbidden by your doctor due to your Diabetes? Try nachos! Use a low fat cheese, low fat sour cream, homemade guacamole, and salsa, and youll be getting a ton of nutrition with a burst of flavor. If you add some beans to the salsa youll have an even healthier snack!

Learning to read the nutrition data on food labels is key to eating the right diet for your Diabetes. Keep track of how much carbohydrates, sodium, sugar, fat, protein, and fiber are in each food you eat and try to only choose those which will keep your weight in check.

Youll be surprised at the number of items containing corn syrup, so check labels, and be prepared to put back common items such as ketchup, sodas, sauces and sweets. It can also be labeled "glucose/fructose".

Think about what you drink. Diabetics need to be careful of everything they ingest, so dont forget to monitor the nutrition data and ingredients on the items your drinking. Juice, for example, is very high in sugar, so you should drink it in moderation. Milk can be high in fat, so stick to skim.

As stated earlier, diabetes doesnt have to be a horrible way to live. It can actually lead to a better life because you are taking care of yourself. You just eat healthier and exercise a bit which are all things you should do anyway. By taking heed of the information in this article, you can have a winning attitude towards diabetes.