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If you have diabetes, your health and your very life can depend on the choices you make on a day-to-day basis. The steps you need to protect yourself are really not that hard though. You just need to know what they are and then work them into your daily routine. Here is an outline of some of the most basic things that every diabetic needs to do in order to maintain good health.

Keep track of your blood glucose levels. Every diabetic will have different requirements in this area, but you will have to monitor your blood sugar levels to one extent or another. Your doctor will likely do blood tests on a regular basis that check how your glucose has been doing over the last few months. He also may want you to check your blood sugar levels yourself at home with a glucometer. Find out how often he recommends that you test, and then stick to that schedule. Finding out your sugar is too high or too low can alert you to danger and give you the information you need to correct it quickly.

Use the medicine your doctor prescribes for your diabetes. Many diabetics have to take some form of medication daily to help control their blood sugar levels. If your doctor has prescribed one or more of these medications, make sure you know exactly when and how to take them. There may be certain times of the day that you are supposed to use your medicine, and this timing can sometimes be quite critical. If you are prescribed an injectable medication, you need training to be sure you are administering it properly. Ask your medical professional to show you how to use your medication and demonstrate the proper injection technique and locations for you.

Even if you find it difficult, you need to exercise daily to help keep your blood sugars under control. Go for a short walk after dinner. Pop in an exercise tape and workout in front of your TV. Hop on a stationary bike and ride while you listen to a book on tape. Go to the mall, and join your fellow “mall walkers” for a laps around the hallways. Figure out some way to fit exercise into your daily routine. Your lifelong health depends on it.

Make sure you have all of your regular examinations done to maintain good health. Diabetes is prone to affecting certain areas of your body, so these regular checkups are vital to catching problems early. Have your doctor check your feet at each visit. Get regular eye exams to make sure there are no early diabetic changes that could eventually affect your eyesight. Have an annual urine specimen examined to make sure all is well. Visit your dentist regularly to ward off decay.

As you can see, there are lots of simple steps you can take to ensure that you protect your health even though you have diabetes. Even though your condition cannot presently be cured, there is a lot you can do to manage it successful and minimize the damage it does to your body. Put these tips into practice, and enjoy a longer, happier and healthier life.

Staying healthy and staying in shape are not necessarily the same thing, nor do they require the same amount of attention or work. Of course, staying in shape is extremely important and being healthy does make it much easier to get into shape once the time comes, but finding the perfect methods for balancing the two objectives is never an easy task and requires an ample amount of time and consideration. Luckily, others have already put in all the hard work and pulled together the tips below.

Food is absolutely the quickest way to align a healthy and fit life, but also the easiest way to obscure the boundaries. Many meals and supplements that are advertised as being good for fitness are actually very un-healthy. However, most honest health foods will have a positive impact on your shape and tone. Thus, it’s best to stick with the foods that are organic and good for the body; rather than experimenting with various mixtures and surprises. Some sort of milkshake or something similar can be alright in the mid-afternoon, but never use it as a replacement for a full, healthy meal.

When to sleep and when to hit the gym is often a tough battle between people who are just beginning to workout. The truth is, you should sleep according to your normal schedule; don’t alter it for a better workout routine. Instead, mold your exercising and such around the times you usually go to sleep and wake-up.

You should do some light exercise before sleep; it helps you sleep more deeply  and get there faster, but likewise, it’s often good to workout not long after you start your day. This doesn’t mean workout just as you awake, but rather, after you have eaten a good breakfast, prepared for a full session, and are completely aware. Never start exercising if you are tired or not fully alert.

It’s good to map tough workouts on a constant schedule, but don’t push your body beyond your known limitations without first preparing yourself. Go at a steady pace and have good goals laid out along the way. Attempting to rush into a state of physical perfection will not only ruin a healthy lifestyle, but often will result in disappointment because you won’t achieve it as fast as you are imagining. It is best to take a comfortable, steady stride and know what your different long-term and short-term goals are. If you stick to this schedule and workout properly, these goals will become accomplished before long and everything will work out perfectly.

In either situation, healthy or fit, it’s best to avoid alcohol under most circumstances. As adults, it’s perfectly acceptable to have a drink on occasion and this isn’t going to hurt anything. It is actually believed to be healthier to have a glass of wine once a week, but you should never attempt to do any exercising or lifting once you’ve had a drink. In all circumstances, safety is extremely important and can be easily forgotten once you’ve had a drink. Never allow yourself or a friend to work out if the two of you aren’t fully alert and coherent. Each glass only makes that bar tougher and tougher to lift, not a good thing when disaster strikes.

These little lines may be hard to walk at times and the two lifestyles often seem to contradict one another at the oddest times, but if you look closely and pay attention, they are both aiming for the same thing. In the end, you should be healthier, happier and in a better shape than before. Never sacrifice good health for anything and if you follow these guidelines thoroughly, there will be no problem living on both sides of the coin.

Improving your fitness also includes elements that will improve your overall health. If you have avoided exercising for a few years, it can be difficult to get back into a regular routine. Follow these tips to improve your fitness and your health.

The type of exercises you should do depends on what your final goal is. If your goal is weight loss, you should alternate strength training with cardiovascular exercises. You can also use some flexibility and stretching exercises to prepare your muscles for a workout.

To keep you from getting bored with your exercise routine and to prevent your body from getting accustomed to repetitive movements, you need to change the types of exercise you do. Luckily, there is no end to the variety of exercises that are available. You can join a gym to participate in exercise classes, use their weights or find a good trainer. You can also purchase exercise equipment and DVD’s to exercise with at home. You can go swimming, ride a bike, jog, hike and walk for effective cardiovascular exercise. You need to get your heart rate up and keep it elevated for 20 to 30 minutes per day, at least three or four times a week.

Although you need to exercise your muscles, avoid pushing them too hard. A build up of lactic acid will create muscle soreness. Some muscle soreness is to be expected but if your muscles get too sore, you may not be able to work out again for a while. In addition, you may not want to work out again if it is too painful. Improving your physical fitness takes time. Do not expect to see results overnight.

Consuming a healthy, well-balanced diet will improve your overall health and give you the energy and nutrition you need to work on your physical fitness. It is also important to remain hydrated. Your diet should consist of lean sources of protein, vegetables, fruit and healthy complex carbohydrates. Keep track of your calories because the most effective weight loss comes from burning more calories than you consume.

Measure your progress by recording your weight and the circumference around your waist, thighs and biceps at the same time every week. Also, pay attention to the way your clothing fits. Several different measurements are required to accurately track your progress. If you only check your weight, it will probably take longer for you to notice results because you are replacing fat with muscle, which weighs more. Do not get discouraged if it takes a month or longer to see any measurable results. Some bodies are especially resistant to change so just be patient.

Reward yourself for even the smallest improvements. If you start to notice that your clothing is getting loose, celebrate by buying a new dress or a new pair of jeans. If you have been especially effective in maintaining your healthy diet, skip one of your tough workouts in favor of a more relaxing yoga class.

You can improve your fitness routine regardless of your age or time limitations. It can be hard to get back into a regular routine but following the tips in this article can help you get started.