Your ability to reach for the food you want most is an advantage
and a disadvantage when you want to manage your diabetes. Many of us need to ask ourselves what we
would do if food was not within reach at all times. Maybe we would recognize some important
habits that are causing us to gain weight and fight against blood sugar spikes
that should not have occurred.
Are You Really
Hungry?
Your busy day is not supposed to interrupt that important
nutritional schedule that maintains your blood sugar in the best range. On the perfect day, you would never skip a
meal or snack that would allow you to get hungry. Few of us have perfect days. More likely, we look at the clock to
determine if we are supposed to eat.
That approach trains the brain and body to expect hunger at certain
points of the day. Before you reach for
a snack, ask yourself if you are really hungry.
Are You Upset?
Sitting on the couch worrying about money, while eating
an entire bag of potato chips, will not resolve your financial concern. In addition, your physical reaction those
chips will cause a different problem in a couple of hours. Eating when you are emotionally upset is a
habit that can be broken when you take a walk, call a friend or address the
root cause of your worry.
Are You In Need of
a Snack?
Busy lifestyles cause us to run ragged until our bodies
send a loud enough signal, such as a headache, thirst or energy drop, to get
our attention. A glance at the clock
reminds us that we ate 12 hours ago. For
a diabetic, this is not a good situation.
Consistent nutrition throughout your day is required to maintain the
blood sugar in the right range.
Be Proactive
Managing diabetes requires frequent blood sugar
monitoring and knowing what to eat in response to the reading. Your objective is to reduce the number of
times that you must make an adjustment.
Carry healthy foods with you at all times and eat at regular intervals
to avoid the cravings that cause you to eat something that you should not have.

