Type 2 Diabetes - A Few Tips for Managing Blood Sugar Levels

Anyone who receives a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes very quickly learns how difficult it can be to live in today's modern world and also control their blood sugar. Aside from difficulties in choosing suitable foods when eating out, diabetics have problems managing their blood sugar levels in a number of different ways including when they exercise.

Here are a few quick tips to help you keep your blood sugar balanced and your insulin spikes reduced so you can enjoy a healthy, long life without any of those health complications you are told accompanies Type 2 diabetes.

Some people may tell you the first thing to do is to buy a blood sugar meter. You already know your blood sugar is high, so let's look at the food you should eat.

Lets look at good nutrition to start with...

    avoid sugar of any kind including maple syrup, stevia and any artificial sweetener.
    eliminate any foods containing flour. This includes bread, rolls, pasta, bagels and similar. These products cause your insulin to rise as they are absorbed really fast.
    skip all processed foods.
    dairy and gluten are inflammatory foods and best to be avoided.

Leave these foods out of your eating plan for 6 or so weeks and watch your weight and blood sugar fall. Check it out with your doctor first. Eat only quality food... you need to combine

    protein,
    fats,
    whole fiber rich food,
    low starch vegetables,
    nuts and seeds,
    some whole grains, and
    low-GI fruit.

Always combine protein with carbohydrates and fat at every meal and snack you take in. Perhaps you doctor has suggested you consult with a nutritionist to help you with the best foods to eat and avoid long-term.

Now here comes the blood sugar monitor. Check your reading two hours after commencing your meal. Depending on several factors, you can expect about a 40 to 60 mg/dL (2.2 to 3.3 mmol/L) difference from a pre-meal blood sugar reading.

Now you need to find the best blood sugar meter for you to use. The blood sugar meter is a simple, compact device you use at home or in your workplace where you prick your finger or forearm to get a sample of blood to test. Your doctor will have told you how many times to check your blood sugar each day, but you still need to make sure you have the right kind of monitor to fit your needs. For instance, if you have problems with your vision then you may want to find one with a larger display and buttons.

Another thought is to have monitors in different locations so you don't have to carry one with you all the time. These monitors are pretty inexpensive generally speaking, so you should be able to have one at work and one at home.

Whenever you have a disease like Type 2 diabetes, it makes sense to keep informed about the latest medications and treatments. Why not join a diabetes group or forum?

Above all, you need to make lifestyle modifications in order to have the best possibility of reversing the disease. No medication alone is known to reverse Type 2 diabetes, but lifestyle modifications have done so for many people.

Finally, it's important you look at ways to reduce as much stress in your life as possible. You can do this by including:

    smart exercise,
    good eating habits,
    meditation,
    counseling, or
    joining a support group.

Avoiding the following negative coping methods will also help reduce your stress:

    drinking,
    smoking,
    overeating,
    skipping meals,
    the abuse of family or friends, and
    skipping doctors' appointments.

They will deplete you mentally and physically. Reducing stress will help you to lower your high blood sugar levels.

How do you start to create a healthy lifestyle today so you can avoid high blood sugar readings?


Article Source: Beverleigh H Piepers