Tips on dealing with your diabetes:

* Include fiber in your food. Instead of artificial fiber supplements, eat natural fiber like oats, bread from whole wheal flour etc. Fiber can be soluble or insoluble. Soluble fiber like in vegetables, cooked peas and insoluble fibers like whole wheat bread, bran, oats etc helps in slowing the glucose absorption and sudden peaks in blood sugar. Fiber also cleans the intestine and one of the factors that prevents intestinal cancer.

* Have regular checkups for weight. Weight reduction is very important strategy to keep the blood glucose in control and utilize it. Weight reduction is important especially in type 2 diabetes, where obesity increases the insulin resistance.

* Avoid alcohol. If you want to take little amounts, don’t take it on empty stomach. This causes low blood sugar levels. Ask your doctor on how much you can ingest without complications and follow that very strictly.

* Avoid high fat foods like ice-creams, candy, sweets. Reserve them for an occasion or party. Eat them cautiously. High cholesterol increases the risk of myocardial infarction in diabetics.

* Prefer protein foods like lean meats, fish. Avoid or lessen intake of red meat.

* Eat at the same time of the day, everyday. Make a chart with six clocks on it. Each clock shows a particular time. Like breakfast, mid afternoon snack, lunch, late afternoon snack, dinner, 2 hours your bedtime snack. Follow those timings to have your food.

* Soft drinks - like cola, Pepsi, juices should be avoided. Instead drink diet soda, mineral water, unsweetened iced tea.

* While you are shopping make it a habit of looking at labels. How much carbohydrate, protein or fats it has, how many calories etc. Pay special attention to unwanted ingredients like hydrogenated fats. While checking for any sugar-free foods, remember they can be sugar-free but they may not carbohydrate-free. So check carbohydrates content too.

* Do not skip meals. Some patients skip meals and also take their regular diabetic pills. This predisposes to hypoglycemia. Always carry some sort of simple sugar like glucose, table sugar in case of hypoglycemia. If you feel sweaty, dizzy or confusion after an insulin dose with skipped meals, mix some sugar in water and drink it. Look for immediate doctor’s attention.

* Eat everything in moderate amounts or diet given by your dietitian. Excess calories gives you weight which is not desirable in diabetes.

When you traveling with diabetes, follow some simple instructions:

* Contact your doctor and take extra prescription or extra medicinesfrom him.

* Take his contact number.

* Wear a bracelet that tells people that you are diabetic.

* Carry your own syringes and other medical supplies.

* Do regular glucose checkups and adjust the insulin levels accordingly.

* Carry sugar with you to prevent hypoglycemia. Don’t take scheduled medicine until you are sure of getting your hands on food.

* Before trying local foods, be careful not to overeat. Ask or check the food labels or ingredients.

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