Life Essentials Magazine January 2018

8
FAST-ACTING INSULINS
If you take fast-acting insulin, be sure
to take it within 15 minutes before your
meal. This may change depending on your
prescribing physician’s instructions. Fastacting
insulins work very well to maintain
blood sugars, but they must be properly
dosed for the individual.
9
WATCH WHAT YOU EAT
If you have diabetes, you need to
watch what you eat carefully. Different
foods will affect your blood glucose levels
in different ways, so you will want
to monitor your food choices carefully.
Bigger meals will need higher injections
of insulin, and small meals might
require less. If you watch your meals, you
can actively manage your glucose levels.
Add healthy carbohydrates to your daily
diet. Diets that are very low in carbohydrates
should be avoided since the body
will be robbed of vital nutrients. Consuming
the right amount of carbs keeps your energy
levels up.
SWITCH TO CINNAMON
If you have diabetes, add cinnamon
to your food as a way to spice up
the flavor without adding sugar, sodium,
or calories. Cinnamon helps you to highlight
a food’s natural sweetness in place of
glucose-raising sugar. There is some debate
about whether cinnamon can lower
glucose levels, but it is not harmful and
can enhance many dishes.
ASK ABOUT GLUCOSE TABLETS
If you are diagnosed with hypoglycemia,
make it a point to consult with your
physician about the possibility of taking
glucose tablets. The tablets are simple to
take wherever you go. They also help elevate
your glucose levels quicker and more
efficiently than foods with sugar.
28 | January 2018