A simple needle prick each day isn’t what creates the fear of diabetes in people. It is the other conditions and complications associated with the disease that truly frighten people, such as the eye disease known as diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness in Americans of working age. You can take steps to reduce the chances of developing severe complications related to your diabetes. Use the ideas from this article to learn more about managing your condition, and developing your own personal treatment plan.

The glycemic index is a number that all foods have. It lets you know how the food will affect your blood sugar. The lower the glycemic index, the better it is for you to eat!

To satisfy your hunger without throwing off your blood glucose levels, snack on almonds. Unsalted almonds are a nutritional goldmine where you can unearth nutrients, such as fiber and protein. Keep a container or bowl of almonds handy by the television or computer so you have a handy snack whenever you need it.

If you are in a large crowd, chances are there are many other diabetics in that crowd, too. This will reduce the stress and shame associated with the diagnosis, and just make your life easier.

If you’re a diabetic, it is vitally important that you indulge your hunger cravings in a way that is healthy. You don’t have to eliminate all the sweets you enjoy. Give yourself permission to enjoy an occasional dessert if your diabetes is properly managed and under control. Enjoy sweets and carbohydrates in low quantities by cutting down your carb intake by the amount of sweets you eat on those occasional treats.

Diabetics should be very cautious when going for a pedicure. It is frequently difficult for diabetics to have successful healing of foot injuries. Even a small cut received during a pedicure could cause problems and complications.

Choose a diet containing lots of fiber. It is certain to lower your chances of developing diabetes. To reduce your risks of diabetes, eat plenty of whole grains, and avoid foods with a high glycemic index, such as processed white bread. There have been studies done that have shown that when people eat more whole grains, they have less of a risk of developing diabetes.

If you have bouts of hypoglycemia, always carry sugary foods such as gum with you to consume when needed. Hypoglycemia attacks can happen at any time, so you need to be prepared for that. This is particularly true if you didn’t eat breakfast, as it can cause your body to crave sugar.

Blood Sugar

Educate yourself so that you know which foods are most likely to cause your blood sugar to spike. Stay away from high glycemic foods, such as cereal, breads, baked goods, and pastas. Processed foods can also have a very detrimental effect on your blood sugar. Try replacing processed foods with the usual suspects: meats, seafood, fruits, and vegetables.

A snacking diabetic will have a hard time resisting the temptation that surrounds them daily. But, it is quite important that unhealthy snacks are passed over for fruit or vegetables.

It is important that you pay attention to the foods that you eat when you are diabetic. Different foods will affect your blood glucose levels in different ways, so you will want to carefully monitor your food choices. If you eat a large meal, it will require more insulin, while smaller meals will require less. It is possible to actively manage glucose levels if you are careful about what you eat.

Blood Sugar Levels

Do not be surprised if your blood sugar levels spike after treating a low glucose situation. That is because of this: your body releases hormones when you have low glucose levels, and because of that, you might inadvertently be consuming more glucose than you need to correct the hypoglycemic episode. When this happens, you may want to reduce the food and liquids by about 50 percent and see how if affects your blood sugar levels within half an hour.

As the introduction of this article mentioned, it’s the potential to go blind and other debilitating side effects associated with diabetes that really scare people. You can work past the fear and use the information you’ve learned here to ensure that you’re never a victim of these nasty complications.