Published on Oct 28, 2024 6 min read

Getting Ready with Diabetes: Life Hacks for Healthier Morning

Do you find it challenging to get ready in the morning with diabetes? It is pretty normal for people who have diabetes as there are chances of blood sugar levels rising due to the increased release of hormones. With high sugar levels, you face increased hunger and thirst, headaches, irritability, and more. Ultimately, all of this can make you feel tired throughout the day.

But the good thing is that your mornings can be much better if you consistently follow some effective morning life hacks. For instance, preparing a healthy breakfast at night, organizing your medicine and other stuff, meditating, making a to-do list, and listening to your favorite music can help you start your mornings well. But how can it be so helpful? Let's find out here without wasting another second!

5 Morning Life Hacks For Getting Ready with Diabetes

Most diabetes patients experience the dawn phenomenon when their blood glucose levels rise in the morning. The increased levels of the cortisol hormone wake you up in the morning. Increased cortisol means increased blood glucose, which is bad for a person with diabetes. So, to avoid this, you need to be watchful about your morning activities to have a good and healthy day ahead. Here are some morning hacks for you:

Making Breakfast the Night Before

When the morning alarm sounds, your first thought might be about breakfast. And when you are leaving for work or in a hurry, following a long recipe is the least appealing thing. People usually go for quick breakfast options. These can be sugary granola bars or greasy sandwiches, which are unhealthy for a diabetes patient. So, it is always good to prepare your breakfast the night before.

You can also work on breakfast when making dinner or waiting for it to be cooked. If you want to eat a healthy omelet in the morning, you can chop the vegetables at night or soak the oats or whatever you want. But remember that you have diabetes, and you must opt for a healthy breakfast option. Skipping breakfast is not a good option for you. This is because people with diabetes who skip breakfast tend to have a high glycemic index, leading to complications.

Organizing the Medicine and Supplies

It is important not only for people with diabetes but also for other people to organize their medicine and related supplies. They get easily lost among expired or unrelated things at your home. So, keep them organized so you dont have to waste time finding your tablets in the morning. First, throw away the expired medicine or supplies you dont need anymore. Take a plastic container or bag and keep your medicine in it. You can organize them weekor month-wise, however it suits you. Labeling the bags or containers with expiry dates and doses will also help. You should place the medicine box, glucometer, and other items on your side table or kitchen table so you don't have to find them anywhere else or miss a dose.

Preparing and Packing the Exercise Clothes

Exercise and physical activities are crucial for diabetes patients to maintain their glucose levels. For your exercise or workout session in the morning, take out and pack your workout clothes and other related items at night and pack them if you go to the gym. Packing socks, hats, shirts, and everything else you need, such as headphones, moisturizer, etc., in a bag would be best. If you still feel unmotivated for an exercise session, try a fun bag with a motivational quotation printed on it.

Make a Morning To-Do List

Missing anything crucial for diabetes management is not a good thing. To avoid this, you should make a to-do list at night for the tasks you need to tick off tomorrow morning. Then, paste it on the mirror or front door so it remains in front of your eyes. Here is a list of tasks that you need to complete as a person with diabetes:

Check your blood sugar levels.
You should take your insulin injections or other medication per your doctor's prescription.
Do your morning hygiene: shower, brush your teeth, etc.
Dont forget to eat a healthy breakfast.
Do some exercise or workout.

Listening to Your Favorite Songs

Listening to your favorite playlist can significantly improve your mood if you feel groggy in the morning. Studies show that listening to music helps you stay focused on your thoughts. It is for your mood and energy level and helps manage your diabetes. Yes, you read that right. Music therapy has proved fruitful for diabetics and prediabetics in lowering blood pressure and blood sugar levels. It also reduces stress and anxiety and makes you feel better, which is a good start to the day.

Getting Ready with Diabetes: Some Other Tips

Although the tips mentioned above are enough for a healthier morning, if you still need some more tips to do better with diabetes, here you go:

Practicing Meditation: Meditation and breathwork in the morning can help reduce cortisol levels and release stress. Dont worry if you dont have enough time in the morning; meditating for only 3-5 minutes is enough. It also helps you keep your sugar levels within the controlled ranges.
Writing in Journal: You might wonder how journaling in the morning helps a person with diabetes. But yes, it does help in many ways. Putting your thoughts on paper saves you from anxiety, ultimately maintaining your blood sugar levels. You can set your goals and write down your achievements from the previous day to stay motivated.

Conclusion:

If you cant wake up fresh and complete the morning tasks efficiently, then dont worry. People with diabetes often complain about this because some hormones are released in the morning, increasing your sugar levels. You can still have smooth and happy mornings with diabetes by including fruitful habits in your morning routine. Prepare your healthy breakfast beforehand, keep the medicine and exercise clothes in place, listen to some music, make a to-do list, and you are good to go.