Living with Diabetes can be challenging if you don’t know how to manage it. Many people end up becoming diabetic and developing health problems because they choose poor lifestyles. And one of those is poor eating habits. A person with Diabetes will always have to watch what they eat, and eating the right foods is not enough. One must also prevent one’s body from having excess sugar by practicing certain habits in their daily routine. In this article, I will discuss the diabetes management plan and habits that will help you easily manage your Diabetes.

Here are the six habits that help you manage your Diabetes.

1. Engage in Daily Exercise

Exercise is the best way to prevent type 2 diabetes, and it can also help control blood sugar levels, reduce the risk of other health problems, and improve quality of life. 

If you have diabetes, doing exercise can help you:

  • Control blood sugar levels.
  • Lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
  • Burn fat and build muscle (which helps with weight loss).
  • Increase energy and stamina.
  • Lower stress levels.
  • Improve overall health and well-being.

There are no specific exercise guidelines for people with Diabetes. Still, most doctors recommend that people with type 2 diabetes perform at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise each week, adding to at least twice a week of muscle-strengthening activities.

 

2. Consume a Healthy Diet

Diabetes is a condition where the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot properly use the insulin it makes. Although there are many types of Diabetes, they all share one thing in common: high blood sugar levels.

You can manage Diabetes through diet, exercise, and medication. Below are some tips on how to manage your Diabetes through diet:

  • Eat Less Fat: Fatty foods can raise your blood sugar levels, so avoiding them as much as possible is essential. Fats are found in meatballs, fried chicken, and other fast-food items.
  • Eat More Fibre-Rich Foods Such as Fruits, Vegetables, and Whole Grains: These foods contain fiber that helps lower blood sugar levels by slowing down digestion and absorption of sugars from the intestine into the bloodstream. Fibre also helps prevent constipation and improves digestion by making bowel movements easier. On busy days, you can consider taking fruit and vegetable supplements like midss.org/health/balance-of-nature-reviews as an alternative for your fiber portion, after consultation from a doctor.
  • Reduce Your Consumption of Sugary Foods Such as Candies, Cakes, Cookies, and Soft Drinks: These contain extra calories that increase your risk for weight gain and obesity, which can lead to prediabetes or type 2 diabetes (see below).

You can ask your doctor to give you the Diabetes Management Plan. You will find the food you should consume and the time you should take it in the Diabetes Management Plan.

3. Reduce Stress

Stress is a part of life and can be caused by many things, including work and relationships. Stress can lead to physical problems such as headaches, stomachaches, and muscle tension. It can also affect your emotions, causing you to feel depressed or anxious.

If you have diabetes, stress can make it harder to manage and lead to complications like heart disease, stroke, or nerve damage in the feet.

Here are some ways to avoid stress:

  • Manage Your Emotions: Try deep breathing exercises or meditation if you’re upset or stressed. These techniques help clear your mind and relax your body so that it’s easier for insulin to work correctly in your body’s cells.
  • Getting Enough Sleep (at least seven hours each night) Sleep helps control blood glucose levels, making it easier for insulin to do its job correctly in the body’s cells. If you’re having trouble sleeping at night or staying awake during the day, talk with your doctor about this issue, so the doctor can resolve it before it becomes a severe health problem for you or others around you.

4. Give up Smoking

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health, and it’s also one of the hardest. But it’s worth it—even if you have Diabetes. Here’s how quitting smoking can help you manage your Diabetes and what to do if you need extra support in kicking the habit.

Why does quitting smoking help people with Diabetes?

There are many reasons why quitting smoking is good for you, including:

  • You’ll Save Money: Smoking is expensive, especially if you buy premium brands or smoke a pack or more daily. You might spend $20 a week on cigarettes; that could go toward healthy groceries instead of tobacco products.
  • Your Blood Sugar Levels Will Improve: If you have type 2 diabetes, quitting smoking lowers blood sugar levels and reduces your risk of having high blood sugar reactions (hypoglycemia). If you have type 1 diabetes, quitting smoking can lower your risk of developing high blood sugar reactions (hypos) due to low insulin production or damage to the pancreas.
  • Your Heart Will Thank You! If you have heart disease or risk factors such as high cholesterol levels or high blood pressure, quitting smoking lowers your risk for cardiovascular problems.

5. Always Take Your Medication

If you have type 2 diabetes and take medication to lower your blood sugar, taking it simultaneously every day is essential.

Taking your medication regularly can help control your blood sugar. If you have type 2 diabetes, you have a higher risk of developing heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and other health problems than someone without Diabetes. However, if you take care of yourself by managing your diet, exercising regularly, and taking medication as prescribed by your doctor, you can reduce your risk of complications from Diabetes.

6. Limit your alcohol consumption

Alcoholic beverages, such as beer, wine, and liquor, contain carbohydrates and calories. In addition to the calories, alcohol may also cause blood glucose levels to rise. Drinking alcohol can also increase the risk of developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

If you are a habitual drinker or completely abstain from alcohol, limit your alcohol consumption to one drink per day (12 ounces of beer or 5 ounces of wine). People with type 2 diabetes should limit their alcohol intake even further—perhaps to no more than two drinks per week.

Avoid drinking on an empty stomach because it can lead to low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). If you choose to drink alcohol after eating a meal, test your blood glucose level first.

Conclusion 

Living with diabetes is much easier with the right habits than living in a diabetic crisis. Diabetes can be managed both before and after it gets out of control. It is not advisable to wait until diabetes occurs to find out how it can be managed. The first step to managing diabetes is awareness and capturing the required actions to help your body.

SHARE THIS POST