10 Tips for Being Prepared With Diabetes

http://type2diabetestreatment.net/healthy-tips/10-tips-for-being-prepared-with-diabetes/

Diabetes and The Unexpected

Diabetes can sometimes seem to play by a rulebook that makes no sense, tossing out unexpected challenges at random. What are your best tips for being prepared when the unexpected happens? Or, take this topic another way and tell us about some good things diabetes has brought into your, or your loved one’s, life that you never could have expected? (Thank you, Heather, for inspiring this topic!)

____________________________________________________________

10 Tips for Diabetes Preparedness

These are things I’ve learned the hard way over the past 22 years with diabetes. They help me cope with life’s curve balls.

1. Carry glucose tablets with you at all times. They ease my anxiety just by knowing they are with me wherever I am.
2. Get a huge bag of glucose tablets at the drugstore and put it in your vehicle’s glove compartment. Life gets busy and not having glucose tablets when needed is so scary. I like having this comforting back-up supply in the car which doesn’t need to be refilled too often.
3. When traveling, going to a party, or attending a long event, keep things simple. Keep your food choices limited to those you have tried before and know how to handle. Avoid those fruity alcoholic drinks at parties and opt for lower carbohydrate options. Pack nuts or other low-carb, filling foods to help you stay satisfied without adding to the other changing factors of your day.
4. Keep extra syringes and test strips with you. I was at an event once when my only syringe bent dramatically. I ended up using it to inject insulin successfully (being very careful) but it was nerve-wrecking and I wish I had just packed a spare!
5. Settle your mind. Diabetes has a lot to do with mindset. When we are stressed or emotional, our diabetes is likely going to be much more difficult to manage because our choices will be altered. So when in the midst of stress, take a moment to center yourself, slow down, and decide to give the proper time and attention to your medication, blood sugar levels, and what you’re eating.
6. If you worry about your blood sugar levels being an issue during a drive, while in a movie theater, or while hiking, consider testing before each activity to better foresee what your needs will be. I test 30 minutes before eating so that if I need extra insulin, I have some time for it to start working before I eat.
7. Be responsible for your own feelings. This one has helped me with feeling emotionally prepared no matter where I go. The only person who can really hurt my feelings likely won’t do so in the first place. All the rest are just opinions that I don’t need to let affect me. Living with diabetes is hard enough, don’t let anyone bring you down.
8. Ask for help when you need it. I don’t like inconveniencing people but I have learned to recognize that if I ask for help before my situation gets truly dire, then I have not only saved myself grief, but others as well. Plus, people are generally more than happy to help.
9. Make a diabetes station at home. Designate a spot where you lay out your supplies and some glucose tablets (assuming there are no toddlers or pets who may get into them). I make mine on a coffee table. Having everything set out while I’m at home reminds me to take the time to stop and check, if needed. This helps because even after all these years, I sometimes forget I have diabetes.
10. Ensure better morning blood sugar levels and thus a better start to your day by taking the time the night before to check your glucose and deal with it accordingly. This one is a must for me since waking up with in-range blood sugar can really set the day off to a good start.

If you have any tips to share, please do so in the comments!

Post Views: 18Diabetes Type 2 Tips
Diabetes Escape Plan
Does Diabetes Destroyer Really Work?
Original Article
#Healthy_Tips
#obesity_help