People are not letting diabetes control their lives. They are taking steps that sideline the effects of the disease and put themselves in control of their own lives. Many of these people don’t know exactly what they need to do, and thus they fail. Take your condition into your own hands by learning how to control it with the following diabetes tips.

Beans for breakfast, beans for tea, beans for you and beans for me! Beans are packed full of protein and fiber, which are both very important in the meals of a diabetic. Try to include as many beans and lentils in the foods you eat as possible. Just cook them up and throw them into everything, from chili to salads!

Pay attention to the feeling in your feet and hands by testing them once in a while. Go barefoot on the floor and see if you can feel the grout between the tiles. When you’re in the shower, drop something and step on it so you can see how well you feel it. Do the same when holding a pencil or pen. If you feel any loss of sensation, go to your doctor and let them know!

If you’re having trouble finding organizations in your area that can help you get help with your Diabetes, dial 211. The United Way can point you in the right direction towards support groups and other organizations who will help you get discounted supplies and prescriptions so you can stay healthy.

When buying your Diabetes medicines, ask for as much as possible at one time. The fee that is added when the pharmacist dispenses your prescription is the same whether you buy 30 days or 90. Therefore, spreading that cost out over multiple days will also reduce the per-dose cost of your medications.

Educate yourself so that you know which foods are most likely to cause your blood sugar to spike. Foods with high glycemic indexes include pastas, cereal, breads, juices, and desserts. Eating processed food will do your blood sugar no favors. Fresh produce, poultry and other lean meat are foods you should focus on to keep your blood sugars more under control.

Go to your doctor immediately if you notice anything wrong with your vision. There are a multitude of problems diabetes can cause with your eyes from cataracts to glaucoma to diabetic retinopathy, and these are all very serious. Fix these problems as soon as possible because they have the potential to cause blindness.

If you have diabetes, a great tip in managing your blood sugar is to never skip meals. When you skip meals, your body uses the glucose from your liver for fuel. For people with type 2 diabetes, the liver does not sense that the blood has enough glucose, so it keeps pouring out even more glucose. Therefore, skipping meals is not a good idea if you have diabetes.

Always have some sugar available, just in case your sugar level runs low. This could be in the form of glucose tablets, orange juice or candy. Instruct your family and friends about where your sugar is in case you ever have a hypoglycemic episode and need it right away. This way you’ll be able to bring yourself out of hypoglycemia without going to the hospital.

Gestational diabetes can lead to Type II Diabetes later in life, so make sure the changes you implement during pregnancy continue after your baby is born. Having a healthy diet while breastfeeding is important, so keep eating cleanly throughout that time and afterward as well. Exercise will not only help you lose weight and tighten your skin back up, but it will also keep your blood sugar levels constantly normal.

If you’re Diabetic, make sure you’re pairing your carbohydrates with a protein. This will help you digest the carbs in a more efficient way, leading to a lower blood-glucose spike once you’re done. For example, pair an apple with some cheddar cheese for a tasty snack that shouldn’t put you over the edge.

If you have diabetes, you should avoid changing your medication without first talking to your doctor. It can be dangerous to experiment because your blood sugar can drop dangerously low by doing this. Therefore, you need to talk to your doctor, and find out what options he or she suggests for you.

You need to make sure that you understand that diabetes is a lifelong problem that can affect every part of your body. If you are in denial you will not be able to take care of yourself effectively and will most likely encounter many more health problems than you need to.

Thanks to the above article, you should now have a thorough understanding of how to manage your diabetes; therefore, you should feel better about how to take steps towards living a better life. This information is only as helpful as you allow it to be. Incorporate these tips into your day-to-day life, and you will soon see results.

Managing Your Diabetes: Everything You Need To Know was originally published on Spring