Diabetic neuropathy is a chronic condition that sometimes accompanies diabetes mellitus. Brought on by long term high blood sugar, this is usually a complication affecting the feet and legs. Over time the nerves become damaged and fail to send sensational messages to the brain. This loss of sensation can cause injuries on the feet to go unnoticed, leading to ulcers.
Stress can wreak havoc on a Diabetic’s mental health, but it will also cause problems physically as well. Try to do stress-relieving activities like exercise, yoga, or deep breathing exercises at the end of the day or during any situation that is particularly stressful to keep yourself calm, cool, and collected.
Do you know what your A1C is? If you’re Diabetic, you should know it along with your weight. This number indicates how well you’ve been controlling your blood sugar over the long-term, which will tell you if you need to be checking your fasting blood glucose levels more often to see what’s going on.
Green tea is an excellent tool for the Diabetic who is attempting to lose weight. Studies show it helps your heart to stay healthy, and it’s so tasty that you won’t want to add any sweeteners to it. You can also use powdered matcha in cooking, and it’s great with cocoa!
You can get a free blood glucose meter from your pharmacy just by asking. They usually have coupons or rebates so that you can get the latest model at no cost, the caveat is that you’ll be buying their brand of blood test strips for the rest of your life.
Keep track of all the medicines you are taking for your Diabetes and any other condition you have in case you ever need to know. You should carry with you information on their names, dosages, and how often you are taking them in case something happens to you when you’re out, or a doctor you’re visiting requests that information.
Focus on leg circulation to combat diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy. Keep your feet moving as much as possible to increase the blood circulating down through your toes. One exercise that is great for a desk job is to lift your foot up and then wiggle your toes, turning your feet in circles at the ankle.
If you suffer from diabetes and you are going to exercise, it is important that you check your blood glucose afterward. Strenuous activity can cause your body to burn off blood glucose and if your body does not have enough glucose, you can develop hypoglycemia. If your glucose levels are too low, try eating foods that have carbs to raise your glucose levels.
If you are diabetic and notice numbness, tingling, pain or burning in your legs or feet, report these symptoms to your doctor immediately. Diabetic neuropathy can be avoided by keeping your blood sugar levels under control. It’s important for diabetics to treat their feet well. Toenails should be clipped regularly, skin should be moisturized and shoes should be comfortable and fit properly.