Properly handling diabetes can be difficult, especially if you do not know a lot about it. There are certain foods that you should eat, medicine that you may need to take and an exercise regimen that you may need to follow. The following tips can help you learn how to live a healthy and functioning life, even if you have diabetes.

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.

If you are diabetic and sick with a stomach infection or diarrhea, call your doctor right away for advice on whether you should continue with your medications or not. For example, some diabetics have been advised to not be taking Metformin if they have any sort of gastrointestinal upset as it could cause more harm than good.

Keep track of your blood sugar levels in a log book, so you know where you’ve been and how you’re doing currently. If you can’t afford enough test strips to check multiple times a day, check at a variety of different times, so that you can get an idea of how your sugar is going throughout a typical day.

Skip the sauces and go for spices to lose weight and keep your Diabetes under control. Spices add a ton of flavor to any food without adding sugar, carbohydrates, or fat, so call on them when you’re cooking. Even a salad can be made zippier with simple vinegar, oil, and a handful of rosemary and oregano!

Many people think diabetics have to avoid all sweets, but this isn’t necessarily true. When planning a sweet dessert or snack, just make sure it is included in a healthy meal or with exercise. Your doctor can guide you with pointers to help you include desserts and snacks in your diet.

Even if you are not feeling any symptoms, it is important that you check your blood sugar levels every few hours. People think that because they feel fine, their sugar levels are stabilized and this is not always true. It is the silent symptoms that could land you in the hospital.

If you are the parent of a child who is experiencing symptoms of diabetes, it is important that you bring them to a doctor immediately. Getting a child treated for diabetes at an early age can prevent them from getting serious health complications. Signs of diabetes in children include excessive thirst, wetting themselves frequently, and frequent respiratory infections.

Diabetics should make sure to always wear socks to bed and wear slippers or shoes inside the house. You’ll want to both provide shock absorption for your feet as well as protection from stepping on something sharp or damaging. Diabetes can lead to an increased susceptibility to infection, so be extra careful!

If you have diabetes, it is important that you include a certain amount of carbs in your diet. Diets that do not have carbohydrates or small amounts of it can cause a diabetic not to get the vitmains and nutrients that they need in order to control their diabetic symptoms.

Women, especially when in their teens and early twenties, may experience significant fluctuations in their blood glucose levels in the week immediately leading up to their menstrual period. Monitor your levels frequently during this time, then make any necessary adjustments in your insulin dosages and urinary ketone measurements, as this can prevent further spikes.

Be careful to not rely on diabetes candy bars and shakes too often. Although they are good for people on the go, they do not replace eating a meal. If you end up eating the candy bars or drinking the shakes too much, you could actually cause your blood glucose level to go too high.

Almost all insurance companies will now pay for blood glucose monitoring equipment for diabetics to have in their homes. It is important to keep machines in good working order and clean. This is vital to assure you obtain accurate results. Your manufacturer’s directions have directions on how to clean and maintain your machine.

For people who suffer from diabetes, try to take a multivitamin with minerals, Vitamin C and Chromium every day. These have all been proven to help keep your blood sugar at a reasonable level. Just remember that these should be taken along with medications, not as a substitute for them.

Don’t completely eliminate your favorite foods, but rather try to make small changes to make them fit better into your diet. For most, the restrictive diet that is necessary to control diabetes is the most difficult part of dealing with the disorder. Many people assume that they have to stop eating their favorite foods. Others tend to ignore the diet and eat their favorite foods anyway. Look for alternatives to your favorite dishes if they are unhealthy. Lots of foods are diabetes-friendly if healthy alternatives are substituted for problem ingredients.

Particularly when you don’t feel like it, you must pay attention to glucose levels, and keep your appetite up by consuming foods that will impact your health in a positive way. You can feel dehydrated during long cycles of low glucose, so be sure to drink fluids at this time.

Do not eat meats that are high in fat if you have diabetes. These meats can raise your glucose levels which can cause many serious health problems. Most supermarkets sell lean meats that have the same taste but are healthier for your diabetes. Also, try to stick with low-fat dairy products.

Now that you know some tips for living with diabetes, you should be able to live a fulfilled life, while still staying as healthy as possible. It may be tough at times but it is important to follow the tips provided, so that you can control your diabetes symptoms, rather than have them control your life.