Stories on Health

While most dietitians and physicians encourage diabetics not to change their diets (except to reinforce the importance of moderation), a properly balanced diet will help diabetics control their blood sugar level so that they feel better. In this busy world, prepackaged or fast foods may be more convenient, but their often high sodium and high fat content makes them dangerous to your health when you need to control your blood sugar. A lot of people get overwhelmed with the thought of cooking for themselves, but it doesn’t have to be a complex ordeal.

With just a little searching, you can quickly find simple, low sugar, healthy recipes from any number of resources, including fellow diabetics, your local library, or online. The American Diabetes Association has a huge collection of nutrition tips and techniques for you to use at no charge. Most importantly, when you are cooking, remember to make sure your meals are balanced. That means that you should eat lots of vegetables, fruits, grains, proteins, and fish, yet limit your intake of fats, sodas, and dairy. Cooking all of these can be fast and painless, and with the right recipes, you’ll save money and feel better as well.

As a diabetic, you see more than your fair share of health fads and trends come and go. One of the most common is the argument supporting the use of antioxidants. It seems like everywhere you turn, you will find studies and statistics on antioxidants and how good they are for you. On TV, on the Internet, and in magazines, we learn that “oxidation” to your cells may be partly responsible for the effects of aging on your health and certain diseases. And though various researchers support various theories about the best way to incorporate antioxidants through diet and supplements, there is still no definitive proof that antioxidants even contribute to your health, diabetic or not.

Some of the major antioxidants are those you’re very familiar with: vitamin c, vitamin e, beta-carotene, and etc. While there are studies that suggest these supplements help your immune system, blood sugar levels—and even your ability to avoid or treat diseases like diabetes—perhaps the safest course of action before changing your diet or supplement intake is to consult your doctor. As you know, diabetics have particular nutritional needs and it’s safer to have as much information as possible as well as inform your doctor about any major health changes you are making.

According to the Census Bureau, nearly 16 percent of Americans—about 47 million people —are uninsured. Medical bills actually cause more than half of all personal bankruptcies in the United States. Though most people are insured through their employers, an increasing number of companies are not offering insurance. The cost of private insurance is often prohibitive.

Getting insurance coverage can be especially difficult for people with diabetes because we usually fall into the “high-risk” category based on pre-existing health conditions. If you don’t have a policy through work, insurance companies are still willing to insure you, but unfortunately the rates are higher. Some people can be tempted to “wait it out” until they absolutely have to get treatment.

There is only one smart choice: Regardless of the cost, health insurance is essential for a diabetic to stay healthy. Check-ups, monitoring, medicines, and hospital visits are all necessary for you to get your blood sugar under control and maintain good overall health. Complacency about diabetes will only cause you more problems in the long run. Please don’t let financial obstacles keep you from acting. You can find an insurer for your budget plan.

A lot of people will tell you that vitamin and mineral supplements are waste of money; that you can get all you need from a balanced diet and single multivitamin daily. But the truth is that getting proper nutrition is never that simple—especially when you have diabetes.

Supplements are available for most ailments and many people choose to try “natural” remedies for things such as sleeplessness, nerve pain, heart function, etc. While some people feel an improvement while taking supplements for health, it is always a safe bet to let your doctors know what you are taking and to keep a close eye on whether the supplements are, indeed, helping you.

Of course you know that nutritional supplements alone cannot provide effective control over blood sugar. But being conscientious about diet and making sure you get proper all-around nutrition goes a long way in keeping your blood sugar levels managed and stable. If your body has the fuel it needs (including vitamins, enzymes, and minerals it cannot readily supply for itself), it will help you feel better. If you feel better, you will have more energy and be able to keep your body fit and trim—and if you have diabetes you know how important a healthy weight is to your overall health.

Most businesses sell several different brands of product in the same space. An example of this is the supermarket: Chances are that whatever you’re shopping for, there are more than a few different versions of it on the shelf. Sometimes choosing among products can be overwhelming, but when you’re open to the choice, businesses know that you’re also open to seeing their product exactly how they present it. It’s easy to get befuddled. And, as a diabetes patient, you need to be even more careful of you choices.

The answer is simple: Focus on the job to be done. Don’t be pulled in by catchy promises, bright colors, and pretty logos. Disregard everything that they are telling you and ask yourself, “What do I really need this for?” Then, stand there blocking the aisle until you have an answer for that question. The answer is all you need to make your choice. That way, you can’t be distracted from a complex message or confused by faulty logic.

Now, apply that same solution to anything for which you are shopping, or on which you are deciding. You can apply it to clothes, furniture choices, diabetes supplies, cars—anything.