Category Archives: Diet

Diabetes – Dealing With Depression

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When you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, you normally go through the normal emotions of denial and anger. Unfortunately, for many, long term depression sets in. In fact, diabetics suffer from depression at a rate of 2 to 4 times the non diabetic population. And anxiety is also an issue – diabetics are 3-5 times more likely to suffer from it.

It’s easy to understand. While you likely know that you’ve still got plenty of time left to experience many of life’s great experiences, you are probably pretty overwhelmed. All the discussion of changing your lifestyle, taking medications, possible complications, blood tests, and taking insulin shots would be enough to bring even the most peppy and upbeat people down.

You know, it’d be easy for you to feel that your diagnosis is going to create huge problems for you going forward and that you have a right to be depressed. You may attempt to rationalize your feelings in some or all of these ways:

1. You feel diabetes will be problematic when you try to make new friends

2. You may be under the impression that you are now limited when it comes to sports or other activities you currently enjoy or wish to take up

3. You think you are too exhausted to battle difficulties brought on by diabetes

4. You are concerned about the potential complications your doctor spoke about when he or she gave you your diabetes diagnosis

5. You are upset that you no longer have the freedom to load up on junk food or to eat whatever you want to eat, when you want to eat it.

6. You continually focus on the minor hassles of having to deal with diabetes.

Hey, all of these concerns are certainly legitimate reasons to be concerned. But you have to realize that every single one of them can be overcome and dealt with reasonably. Many have done it in the past and many more do it today. You’ve simply got to get into the right frame of mind.

Here are some tips that can help keep you out of a depressed state:

1. Do your best to get your blood glucose under control. You don’t want to become obsessed with it, of course, but learn how to get it under control and monitor it regularly. If you are able to do so, this will be a major positive for you.

2. Develop a habit of exercising regularly. It’s not hard to do, even if you don’t think you can find the time. I walk my dog for 2 miles every morning – rain or shine – and then again in the late afternoon. Went from taking me 45 minutes to just over 30 minutes in less than a month.

3. Talk with a co-worker, friend or family member about how your are feeling. Getting the thoughts out there – don’t keep them inside. You’ll be amazed at how much better you will feel.

4. By all means, understand that your blood glucose level will fluctuate from time to time and that it’s not your fault if the number bumps up once in a while.

I know that depression can be and is a major issue for those suffering from diabetes. Know it very well. But I’ve had first hand success in dealing with depression issues by using these methods. Sure, there are still some down days, but whom amongst us doesn’t have a down day now and again – diabetics and non diabetics alike?

I can’t stress it enough. There are a lot of reasons to maintain a positive attitude along with a good sense of humor. It’ll make your diabetes easier to deal with on so many levels.

Diabetes is far from a death sentence. Go out and live your life to its fullest!

3 Diabetic Symptoms – That Most People Ignore These Warning Signs of Diabetes

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When the point comes of identifying the signs of diabetes, many people overlook these alarming signs of diabetes. The basic reason behind this ignorance is that earliest diabetic symptoms are so normal and harmless that most people consider them normal. This is also an explanation of terming diabetes “a silent Killer”. In diabetes nobody loses her hair like in case of cancer or develop serious sore like in any other chronic ailment. However it is critical to know about signs of diabetes so you do not make this biggest blunder of ignoring these symptoms. Though the diabetic symptoms seem harmless but in reality they are signaling about a serious illness.

Doctors are of the belief that it is important to listen to the body so one can have the problem officially diagnosed by the doctor. The timely diagnosis and right treatment helps in lessening the long-term effects of the disease in the body.

The rule of thumb here is that earlier the person starts the treatment the lesser the disease can harm the body. So have a brief look of these symptoms so these are not overlooked if ever your turn comes.

3 Earliest Diabetic Symptoms

Unquenchable Thirst: Are you always feeling thirsty no matter whatever you drink? If yes then a wiser decision is to take an appointment with the doctor to have your blood test done. This diabetic symptom even irritates during the summer months specifically for those who are physically more active. If her underlying cause is not diabetes then the thirst must be fulfilled by drinking few glasses of water.

Frequent Trips to Rest Room: Have you ever thought that frequent trips to the rest room can be the cause of the concern? But start thinking it now as this is the most common diabetic symptom. Do not confuse this situation with an explanation that you are drinking more alcoholic beverages.

No matter both initial signs of diabetes are linked and one results in another. But because of diabetes no matter how much liquid you drink it is unable to hydrate you as all is getting waste because of the rest room trips.

Tiredness and Fatigue: You must be thinking that who does not get tired once in a while. You are right but if the tiredness is not getting away no matter what you eat and how much relaxed sleep you are getting then it could be the alarming sign that you may have diabetes. This is truer if you feel tired even more after eating or after having an enough sleep. Feeling exhausted all the time is the body’s style of telling you that something is going wrong.

When we talk about diabetes each day or even each minute is the essence. Proper knowledge of spotting these signs of diabetes can serve as lifesaving drugs.