Have you noticed that you have started feeling more thirsty than usual? Or do you feel irritated quite often without any specific reason or due to minor issues? Though there can be other reasons behind these issues under special circumstances, these are usually considered to be the early symptoms of diabetes. It is advisable that you have yourself checked for high blood sugar. So, the next time when you start thinking “Do I have diabetes or how do I know if I have diabetes” then check if you have these prediabetes symptoms.
40% Americans suffer from diabetes
According to BRFSS data, approximately 40% or more than 100 million adults are living with diabetes or prediabetes in the US. West Virginia has the highest adult rate of diabetes. Read the full report.
Whether your live in Virginia, Vegas or Vienna, you must be careful if you notice any of these symptoms of diabetes.
Diabetes early symptoms
Itchy skin: If your skin start itching anytime of the day, be alarmed. Diabetes could be the reason.
Dryness in mouth: Lack of water caused by high sugar level could be the reason.
Slow healing : If even a minor cut is taking weeks to heal, then get your sugar level checked.
Excessive urination: Has your frequency of urination gone up? Get yourself checked for diabetes.
Feeling hungry: Have you started feeling hungry despite taking your regular diet? This is one of the diabetes’ early symptoms.
Blurred vision: Having trouble focusing on objects at a distance? If your vision get blurred on and off, then it is time to have yourself checked for diabetes.
Feeling tired all the time without any reason? Well, pre-diabetes could be the reason.
Irritable behaviour: Do you feel irritated all the time for no apparent reason? Get your sugar level checked.
Yeast infections
7 natural remedies for diabetes
Nature has provided us with various remedies that work wonders for diabetics. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones.
Vitamin C- All types of citrus fruits are good for those looking to lower their sugar level naturally. Lemon, orange, grapefruits, limes, kabasu, pomelo and tangerine to name a few.
Basil leaves: They are power-packed with a lot of medicinal properties, which are beneficial for everything from common cold and cough to heart health. Just eat one or two fresh basil leaves everyday if you have diabetes. In fact, basil is good for overall health.
Fig tree leaves: These are reported to have blood sugar lowering properties. However, you must take expert advice if you are already taking insulin or diabetes medication.
Bitter gourd: I know many people who claim to have controlled their blood sugar level by eating bitter gourd on a regular basis. Make bitter guard part of your diet to manage diabetes. If not daily, make it a point that you eat bitter gourd twice a week at least. This works well for both type I and type 2 diabetes.
Fenugreek: This is a very common ingredient in Indian or Asian dishes. If you are not using fenugreek in cooking, then you can also consume it with water. Simply soak a spoonful of fenugreek seeds overnight and eat it the next morning on an empty stomach. You can also drink the same water it was soaked in.
Neem leaves or juice: Though it is bitter, Neem leaves are highly beneficial for sugar level control. A few leaves everyday or just one spoonful of neem juice everyday is enough for pre-diabetics.
Amla or Indian gooseberry: As a child, I used to eat amla every day especially during winter months as I had an Amla tree in my backyard. I know, it is not possible for everyone to get that fresh amla, but you can try Indian gooseberry juice or Amla powder with water as well.
Cinnamon: It works well to reduce blood sugar level effectively by stimulating insulin activity.
Prediabetes diet
Any prediabetes diet is considered good if their Glycemic Index or GI value is low. It is essentially a measurement of how fast it can be absorbed by your body to raise your blood sugar level. The lesser the GI value of your food, the better. Though it is slightly difficult to say the exact GI value of most food items, we have a general list of food that are good for prediabetics. Some food labels clearly mention their GI level. If your food level has no information about GI value, then the following list can be a handy guide for you before you buy your groceries.
Recommended food for prediabetes
- Whole wheat, cereals and grains
- Sweet potatoes and legumes
- Pasta
- Pre-boiled rice and brown rice
- Most species of fish
- Homemade oatmeal
- Vegetable noodles
- Yogurt
Avoid these foods if you are diabetic
- Food rich in refined sugar
- White bread
- Short grain or jasmine rice
- Pork, poultry and beef
- Packaged oatmeal
- Sugary beverages
- Sweetened breakfast cereals
- Peanut butter
- French fries
Snacks for diabetics
If you are an egg eater, then nothing can be better than eggs as snacks if you are diabetic or a prediabetic. In fact, eating eggs is highly recommended even if you don’t have diabetes. Eggs are known to prevent diabetes to a great extent. For an adult, 4-6 eggs a week is highly recommended. These are good also for those with cholesterol issues or heart problems.
Chia seed based food
Chia seed is considered beneficial for prediabetics as well as those with diabetes type 2. Snacks such as Chia seed pudding is easy to prepare and full of nutritional value.
Tuna salad
Do you love eating fish? If yes, then consider tuna salad as a healthy snack if you are diabetics. Tuna is also a rich source of Omega 3 fatty acids, which are highly beneficial for overall health, weight loss and cardiovascular issues.
Diabetic desserts
When it comes to diabetic desserts, the possibilities are limitless. Well, cooking itself is all about trying different recipes and experimenting with your imagination, new ingredients and unique cooking methods. However, when preparing desserts for diabetics, you have to be slightly careful and thoughtful. The real challenge is to keep the sugar content as low as possible without compromising on the taste. Essentially, using wholegrain and natural sweeteners instead of refined sugar is the key. You can experiment with different types of fruit tarts, mango puree, apple crisps, cheese cup cakes and more. Here you will find some great diabetic dessert recipes.
The best diabetic diet
Once you have diabetes, your doctor advises against eating a lot of things that you normally eat. Does it mean you should stop enjoying food? Absolutely not, diabetes is just a health condition that requires slight modifications in your lifestyle and especially eating habits. Moderation is the key to a healthy diabetic diet.
Diabetic diet list
- Use whole grain
- Eat eggs ( preferably boiled, but if you cook, avoid using too much oil)
- Skinless chicken or turkey
- Make plain yogurt part of your diet if you are diabetic
- Fatty fish is considered one of best diabetic diets
- Raw nuts
- Brown rice
- Wholegrain based food (Avoid white rice)
- Start using turmeric in food, its compound curcumin helps in reducing blood sugar level.
Bottom line is, you should avoid packaged grains to avoid blood sugar spikes. Also, you must develop a habit of counting calories and controlling portion sizes. These changes seem to be difficult in the beginning, but will be highly beneficial not only for your diabetes but also for your overall health. Read about 9 food to control diabetes.
Diabetes reversal
Can diabetes be reversed? This is one of most common questions asked by diabetics. Well, the answer lies in your ability to control your eating habits and maintaining an active life. There are a number of people including celebrities who have been able to reverse diabetes. They are living a healthy life without insulin injections or other diabetes medication.
Why most people fail at diabetes reversal
The problem with those with diabetes is that once they start taking diabetes or sugar control pills, they enter their comfort zone. Changing lifestyle habits at this stage becomes difficult. Taking medication is an easier option, which obviously is preferred by a majority of people. What they don’t realize is that by being dependent on sugar control pills, they are actually doing more harm than good to their overall health. On the other hand, those who take the challenge positively and start making changes in their daily eating habits, are the ones who say that diabetes reversal is possible.
A scientifically proven way to reverse diabetes naturally
Learn about some of the important and shocking facts that will completely change the way you handle your diabetes. The methods mentioned by the author of Big Diabetes Lie will make your life easier and enjoyable whilst controlling your sugar level. However, make sure that you follow those techniques, methods and eating habit to get the desired result.
We’ll cover more about how diabetes can trigger more health issues, if not managed properly. In the mean time, make your life more active, healthy and full of fun.
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