Manage Your Lifestyle to Control Your Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the leading health concerns in the world today after obesity. Diabetes occurs when the blood glucose levels in the body are too high. Blood glucose is the body’s main source of energy and is obtained from the food we consume. The hormone insulin, made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into the cells to be used for energy. When the body doesn’t make or doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t metabolize the insulin well, the glucose remains in the blood and doesn’t reach the cells leading to high blood levels of glucose, thus causing diabetes. However, with proper management and medication, diabetes is a manageable condition. All it requires is working in close collaboration with the doctor to manage your lifestyle in order to control the disease. Here are some tips on how this can be done:

Eat healthy:

Diabetes affects your blood sugar which in turn is affected by what a person eats. Though no foods are strictly denied to a diabetic, it is better to focus on eating just as much as the body requires and consuming healthier food choices such as plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, nonfat dairy and lean meats. It is advisable to limit foods that are high in sugar, fats and carbohydrates as carbohydrates turn into sugar, This is crucial if an individual is taking insulin or drugs to control their blood sugar.

Exercise:

Physical exercise is crucial to managing diabetes even if it is just walking, riding a bike, or playing active video games. The goal should be to get 30 minutes of activity five days a week that makes the individual sweat and breathe a little harder. An active lifestyle helps in controlling diabetes by bringing down blood glucose levels and also lowering the chances of getting heart disease while also helping to lose weight and reduce stress.