Great Info Tips

I first began by going online and trying to find out as much about diabetes as I could. There’s a lot of information out there in cyberspace. You can spend a lot of time at your computer going from website to website for the answers you hope to find. Sometimes it can be very frustrating. I know because I did that myself. I was looking for the golden goose of diabetes…a way I could reverse the disease. Until a cure is found it’s almost impossible except for few people who can lose enough weight to reverse diabetes. I no longer believe that includes me. I am not that much over weight. Oh, I do need to lose some weight, especially around my middle, but I do not believe that losing that weight will overnight take away my diabetes.

You have to understand that carbohydrates are the key to keeping diabetes under control. Carbs in foods raise the blood glucose levels the fastest and highest right after you eat. You can check this by taking a blood test before eating and then about an hour later. You will see the higher level after you have eaten carbs. The weird thing is you can’t avoid carbs. There are some very healthy foods that you will eat that contain carbs. Packed with energy, vitamins, and minerals they are essential and they don’t contain a lot of fat.

Adults need about four to five carb servings at each meal. Check with your doctor or dietitian to find out how many carbs you should have at each meal. You should eat about the same number of carbs at each meal to help control your blood glucose levels. This should be your first priority. The following are some carbs and the amount to eat for a serving: Grains, pasta, bread, cereal :1 slice bread, 1 oz. dry cereal, 1/2 cup pasta / Rice,beans,starchy veggies: 1/3 cup cooked rice, 1/2 cup beans or starchy veggies (corn, peas, potatoes)/ Nonstarchy veggies each serving (1/2 cup cooked & 1 cup raw)=5 grams carbs/ Fruit and fruit juice : 1 small piece of fruit, 1/2 cup juice  Milk, yogurt,other dairy :1 cup fat free milk, 1 cup nonfat yogurt w/fruit w/no cal sweetener/ Sweets (cookies,candy,ice cream) : 1/2 cup ice cream, 2 small cookies (2 inch) /Sugary foods (regular soda,etc): choose water or other no calorie drinks instead

Try to follow as best as possible. It’s not easy when you first get started. I know I have been trying for a long time and there are times when I fall off the wagon, but I pull myself up and start again the next time.