Why Lifestyle Modification Matters Most
Diabetes is a condition that affects millions of people in the U.S. In fact, 26.9 percent of people over the age of 65 have it. About 1.9 million people aged 20 and over have it. But, being diagnosed with diabetes covers only a part of the population. There are many people on their way to becoming diabetic that have sub-clinical symptoms. In short, they’re on the road, but haven’t gotten there yet. If you have diabetes, or you suspect that you’re pre-diabetic, here’s what you can do.
Change your diet immediately and forever
Changing your diet immediately might make a lasting improvement in your condition. If you’re used to sugary drinks and foods, try to limit these and focus more on healthy starches like potatoes and sweet potatoes or yams. If you need the sugar for your insulin, opt for healthy fruits.
If you can control it through diet, your doctor may recommend a low-carb diet. Look into resistant starch and soluble fiber, like inulin and FOS, which may help stabilize your blood sugar.
Eat at consistent times each day. Your body will get used to this and, if you skip meals, you may send your blood sugar into the basement. Then, you overeat and your blood sugar skyrockets. Not good. Coordinate your meals with your medication and you should be able to manage it just fine.
Stop smoking and cut way back on drinking
Alcohol can mess with your blood sugar in a nasty way. Smoking is just plain bad for you, but it can be especially detrimental for you if you’re diabetic. If you currently have problems with drinking, because you’re depressed about your condition or you’re a heavy drinker, consider some alternative treatment options that don’t involve AA for alcoholics (you may not be an alcoholic – you may just need to reduce or eliminate your habit).
Exercise
Everyone who wants to be healthy goes outside and runs. But, you actually need a combination of walking or running and strength training. Doing weightlifting, like barbell-driven exercises, will build muscle that will help you with your condition as you age. It also helps to stabilize (lower) your blood sugar, and it will generally make you feel better.
Manage stress
Even stress can drive up blood sugar. So, before you get ticked off about the guy who just cut you off, take a breather. It’s good for your health. It might also be beneficial to start doing meditative yoga or some other kind of meditation.
Take care of your general health
It’s important to get regular eye, dental and regular physicals from your doctors. Why? Because diabetes, and even pre-diabetes, presents with problems like loss of vision, dental problems and other physical problems that may decrease the quality of your life, or even kill you if left unchecked. For example, regular inspection of your feet will help uncover diabetes quickly because half of all people with the condition have some form of nerve damage or neuropathy. Nerve damage can make you numb so you won’t notice pain or other issues – especially in your feet.
Article by Steve Tucker. Steve’s passion for holistic medicine grows from his love for research and healthy living. He knows that medications are often most effective with healthy lifestyles and better understanding of ailments, so he often blogs about his research and insights into a healthier life.
This article was written by the guest author listed at the end of the article.