6 Tips if You're Tired of Your Diabetes
4. Rethink exercise.
If you know you should exercise, but it's not happening for you, take a look at why that is.
Maybe your goal was too ambitious. "Do whatever you think you can do," Gaines says. "Sometimes it's just walking. And you don't have to walk vigorously. Smell the roses along the way."
Don't be a perfectionist about it. Let's say you wanted to exercise every day but you missed a couple of days. "Don't beat yourself up for that," Spero says. "Give yourself credit for the days you did walk."
Instead, ask yourself what would help you do better with your goal in the future. Find ways to make it happen.
"If you expect perfection, then you're going to be disappointed a lot of the time," Spero says. "If you're looking for steady progress, then you can see that."
5. Get more ZZZs.
Skimping on sleep at night can leave you feeling irritable and stressed. It can also hurt your blood sugar control.
So make sleep a priority. Turn off the late-night TV, keep your bedroom all about sleep and relaxation, and try to get at least eight hours of sleep a night.
That's a lot more sleep than many people get. If that's true for you, give it a try and see what a difference it makes for you. Though it will mean changing your routine, it pays off for your health and energy level.
6. Keep your sense of humor.
A good laugh won't change your diabetes, but it can boost your mood.
"Laughter is a great antidote to feeling depressed or anxious," Grusd says. "It's important to use that as a coping tool when you're feeling down."
Look for chances in your day to tap into that. Watch happy, uplifting movies and avoid tearjerkers, and "surround yourself with joyous, happy people," Grusd says.
Is This Normal? Get the Facts Fast!
Answer:
0-69
70-130
131+
Your level is currently
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.
However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Did You Know Your Lifestyle Choices
Affect Your Blood Sugar?
Use the Blood Glucose Tracker to monitor
how well you manage your blood sugar over time.
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