by Melanie on August 14, 2007
Hi! I'm Melanie. A little birdie told me that possibly you aren't subscribed to this site. Are you nuts?
Subscriptions are totally free, and you can sign up either for Emails or the RSS feed. It's so easy, so do it now, and welcome to Dietriffic!
Regularly monitoring your health when you have diabetes is crucial to preventing the complications related to diabetes. These complications include heart and kidney disease, nerve damage, and eye problems. For many, monitoring becomes something they don’t really have to think about anymore, and needn’t be something for you to worry about.
Home blood glucose testing
Unfortunately, unless your blood sugars are very high, relying on how you feel alone, is not a good indicator of whether your blood sugars are within the normal range. Therefore for many, monitoring blood levels at home becomes part of their daily routine.
Home blood glucose testing will give you an accurate picture of your blood glucose level at that the time of monitoring. You should endeavor to keep a record of your readings, so that your health care team can make adjustments to your treatment, where appropriate. You may also find it useful to keep a record of what you ate, or how stressed you were, as this may effect your blood glucose levels, particularly if your readings appear to be out of control.
What is your blood glucose target?
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by Melanie on August 10, 2007
Being active combined with healthy eating, and diabetes medication (if appropriate) goes a long way in helping the management of diabetes, and prevention of long-term complications.
So, does that mean a trip to your local gym to sign up straight away? Well, not necessarily! It really depends on you; what you like to do, and what you can fit into your lifestyle. Remember, exercise must be enjoyable, so choose activities that you enjoy.
What are the benefits of physical activity for diabetes?
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by Melanie on August 8, 2007
Have you ever wondered why there is such an increase the diagnosis of diabetics? Well, one of the reasons is due to greater numbers of people being overweight, as this is one of the main risk factors for people developing Type II diabetes.
If you have diabetes, and are overweight, it will be much more difficult for you to control your condition. This is because your insulin, whether naturally produced, or received by injection, cannot work as effectively as it could, this is called insulin resistance.
Some people with Type II diabetes, can gain good control of their condition, with dietary modifications, and physical activity. They are often then able to reduce, or stop taking, their medication. However, diabetes is a lifelong condition, and it is simply being controlled by these measures, and not cured.
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by Melanie on August 8, 2007
by Melanie on August 8, 2007
Initially, being diagnosed with diabetes can be a little overwhelming! However, with the right food and lifestyle changes, your diabetes can be controlled very well. Thankfully, managing diabetes, isn’t about cutting out all of the foods you love. If your diabetes is well controlled, you should still be able to enjoy a wide variety of foods.
What are the keys to successfully managing diabetes?
- Taking your prescribed medication at the allocated times.
- Eating a healthy diet.
- Eating regular meals.
- Maintaining blood sugars within the recommended range.
- Maintaining a healthy body weight.
- Physical activity.
- Monitoring blood sugars (where appropriate).
What is a healthy diet for diabetes?
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