Healthy tips
Read tips to reduce your saturated fat intake, to reduce your salt intake, and about what to do when you're sick.
Go Lean!
Tips to reduce your saturated fat intake:
- Select lean meats and trim any fat before cooking.
- Remove skin from poultry.
- Drink skimmed, 1% or 2% milk.
- Choose cheese with 7 - 15% M.F. (milk fat).
- Choose yogurt with 2% M.F., or less.
- Limit your intake of fried foods.
- Use less oil in your cooking.
- Choose soft margarine instead of butter.
- Select brands labelled as "low in saturated fat" and not ones that contain hydrogenated fats or oils.
Keep the pressure down!
Tips to reduce your salt intake:
- Limit the use of condiments such as salad dressings and processed foods, as these have a high salt content.
- Reduce the use of salt at the table and in your home cooking.
Illness and blood glucose
What to do when you're sick:
- Notify your physician.
- Continue to take your medication(s).
- Rest.
- Test your blood glucose and urine for ketones more frequently.
- Drink extra fluids such as water, weak tea, sugar-free soft drinks. You should aim to drink at least 8 - 10 cups of fluid per day.
- If you are unable to eat your usual foods, try one of the following every hour:
125 mL (1/2 cup) fruit juice, 125 mL (1/2 cup) regular ginger ale or other caffeine-free soft drinks, 250 mL (1 cup) milk, 250 mL (1 cup) soup, 75 mL (1/3 cup) regular jello, 1/2 popsicle, 75 mL (1/3 cup) ice cream, or 6 soda crackers. - If you are unable to eat or drink for more than 4 hours, or if vomiting occurs twice within 4 hours, phone your physician immediately.
- Extreme thirst, dry mouth, frequent urination or extreme fatigue are all symptoms of high blood glucose. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should phone your physician to report these symptoms.
- Although blood glucose levels tend to rise with illness (even without eating), you should still watch for symptoms of low blood glucose.
