Diabetes is a very common disease and we all probably know at least one person who is currently dealing with this disease. If you receive the news that you have diabetes, you will need to know how to fight back against it. Check out these useful tips to fight your disease.

Read labels on the foods you buy to determine which foods are likely to cause your sugar to spike. While it's easy to see in unprocessed foods where the sugar or other ingredients are, it's not so simple with processed or packaged food. Read the labels and avoid items that have been known to interact with your sugar.

Add a little vinegar to your meals. Studies have shown that having a few tablespoons of vinegar before your meal can actually cause your blood sugar to rise slower than it normally would after a meal. Vinegar has the ability to slow down the digestion of starch and keeps your food in your stomach longer. If you can't palate the vinegar straight, try adding a few splashes in a vinaigrette dressing on your salad before your main meal.

If you have diabetes, it is important to get the right amount of sleep. Sleeping too much and not sleeping long enough can both affect how much you crave food. If you give in to those cravings, you will gain weight, and you will be at risk for other complications. Try to get around eight hours of sleep each night.

Eat regularly and don't skip meals or change your diet drastically. Skipping meals will disturb your blood glucose levels. If you have type 2 diabetes, the liver will make glucose and will not stop producing it unless it has a signal to stop. A small snack with some carbohydrates can tell the liver to stop. Many people think diabetics have to avoid all sweets, but this isn't necessarily true. When planning a sweet dessert or snack, just make sure it is included in a healthy meal or with exercise. Your doctor can guide you with pointers to help you include desserts and snacks in your diet.

Try to avoid soda and other sugary drinks of you have diabetes. There are no health benefits from drinking these drinks and can in fact, cause your sugar levels to go higher. If you are going to drink juice, try to stick to ones that have no sugar in them. If you love to have a sandwich, but can't afford the carbohydrates that come with the bread, make a lettuce wrap! Diabetics who need to keep their weight in check will avoid eating the part of the sandwich which is bad for you, while having the fresh, crispy crunch of lettuce. It's so tasty!

Aspirin can counter this risk. Ask your doctor if you should add aspirin to your daily treatment routine, since you should avoid aspirin if you have conditions like bleeding ulcers.