Diabetes is categorized as a chronic disease with no cure. Naturally, finding out that you’ve been diagnosed with such a condition, would be cause for concern. This is especially true if you’ve heard stories or witnessed others suffer or even die due to complications of the disease. Though your concern is warranted and problems can occur for those who suffer from diabetes, there is also hope. Managing Diabetes is possible with a few lifestyle changes and working with your healthcare practitioner you can learn to manage your diabetes and live a long, happy, and essentially healthy life.
Monitor Your Blood Sugar Levels
In order to maintain healthy glucose levels, it is highly recommended that diabetic patients monitor their blood sugar levels daily. While each patient will vary, it is often requested that you test your levels using a portable glucose monitor when you wake up, before meals, and before going to bed. Knowing your blood sugar levels helps you to manage your medication, nutrition, and physical activity to keep you healthy.
Eat More Fruits and Veggies
Fruits and veggies should be an important part of anyone’s diet. This is because they are packed with key vitamins, nutrients, and minerals the body needs to function properly. As a diabetic, incorporating more fruits and veggies into your diet helps you to manage your blood sugar levels while also assisting you in maintaining healthy body weight. Incorporating more salads or drinking more fruit and veggie smoothies can help you to get your daily dose in with ease.
Ditch Refined Carbs
One of the first items diabetic patients are taught to remove (or dramatically reduce) from their diets is sugar. While it may be obvious to stop eating things that are packed with sugar like candy, soda, and baked goods, there are other items containing sugar that are often overlooked – refined carbs.
Things like white rice, white bread, and even certain cereals are referred to as refined carbs. These items, although they may not taste sweet break down into sugar causing your glucose levels to rise significantly. It is, therefore, recommended that you ditch all refined carbs and replace them with complex carbs like whole grains, brown rice, and wheat products.
Take CBD Supplements
CBD products have become extremely popular. Everyone from college students to Tessera Naturals” data-wplink-url-error=”true”>athletes using CBD as a means to enhance performance, increase energy, improve mood, reduce anxiety, and much more. CBD can also be beneficial for those suffering from diabetes. As diabetes is an inflammatory medical condition, CBD works to help reduce inflammation which can help to reduce insulin resistance. Simply take one gummy each day to help manage your diabetes.
Get Active
Exercise is ideal for managing your diabetes. It helps you to maintain a healthy weight while also lowering your blood sugar levels and improving your insulin sensitivities. So, this should encourage you to want to get up and get moving. While you should most certainly talk to your doctor before engaging in any physical activities, the most common forms of exercise recommended for managing diabetes are aerobics and strength training.
Aerobic exercises like running, hiking, and dancing, get your heart rate up and your body sweating which helps you to burn calories and lose weight. Strength training such as lifting weights or using resistance bands helps to lower your blood sugar and improve your insulin sensitivities. Try to create a workout routine that incorporates both forms of exercise for the best management of your diabetes.
Go to Sleep
With busy schedules, stress, and anxiety, getting to sleep might be a challenge. Be that as it may, it is necessary especially for those who are living with diabetes. When you sleep, it gives your mind and body the time it needs to replenish and heal itself from all the stress and exposure from the day prior. Failure to get enough sleep at night can cause you to have higher than normal blood sugar levels and higher insulin resistance.
Make sure you’re getting at least 7-9 hours of rest each night. You can try things like having an ideal bedtime and routine, creating a comfortable sleep environment, and talking to your doctor about any sleep disturbances like fluctuating blood sugar levels, stress, or anxiety.
Being diagnosed with diabetes may sound like a life sentence, but it doesn’t have to be. The keys to living a full, happy, and healthy life, despite your condition is getting aware, working with your doctor and team of medical specialists, and making lifestyle changes such as those listed above.
