Diabetes is a serious, chronic condition that affects millions of Americans. According to the latest data, over 30 million Americans have been diagnosed with the condition.
When you have diabetes, your body cannot properly regulate blood sugar levels, resulting in high glucose levels in the bloodstream. Insulin, which is released from the pancreas, is critical for breaking down glucose for energy, and diabetics either do not make enough insulin or their body does not utilize it properly.
Left untreated or unmanaged, diabetes can lead to potentially life-threatening complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, and nerve damage.
There are many factors in preventing diabetes that overlap with managing diabetes. Here, we will discuss some of the most helpful methods someone with diabetes can adopt for better health and a reduction in complication risk.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating nutritious foods helps you get your body the vitamins and minerals it needs and prevents blood glucose spikes that over time can cause complications. When putting together a meal plan, choose fruits and vegetables, lean protein, beans, and complex carbohydrates. Avoid processed foods and sugary foods and drinks. Additionally, monitor your portion sizes, so that excessive calories aren’t consumed on any given day. This will help you maintain a healthy weight, which has been linked with better management of type 2 diabetes.
It can be challenging to plan for meals if you have food sensitivities and intolerances or other gastrointestinal issues. It is best to consult a professional for individualized meal planning.
Exercise Regularly
Physical activity helps manage blood glucose levels by burning off excess energy stored as glycogen, which is a form of carbohydrates. You do not have to go to the gym to get exercise. Even just 30 minutes of light exercise per day in the form of walking, cycling, or swimming are beneficial. However, you may also want eventually to add strength training for stronger muscles, which also increases the rate at which you burn calories.
Monitor Your Blood Glucose Levels
Keeping track of daily readings through regular blood glucose monitoring allows you to detect patterns of highs and lows, so you can make the necessary changes to your diet and lifestyle. It is recommended that diabetics test their blood glucose levels before a meal, two hours after a meal, and before bedtime. The information you collect is also very useful when you see your doctor, who can adjust your treatment plan accordingly.
Reduce Stress
Studies have shown that stress hormones can directly affect insulin production. Keeping your stress levels low can have many benefits that extend beyond preventing and managing diabetes, too.
Visit Your Doctor Regularly
Chronic disease management is a service many doctors provide. Seeing a medical professional regularly, especially if you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, helps you manage your condition better. Having a doctor monitor your health numbers and make individualized recommendations for long-term success, especially if you have multiple existing chronic health conditions, is the best way to go.
Diabetes Management in Rochester, NY
The medical professionals at Cornerstone Urgent Care Center offer chronic disease management services for patients who want to get better at managing their diabetes and prevent complications related to the disease. We are committed to helping reduce the severity of your symptoms, so you can live your life fully.
For any questions or to schedule an appointment with us, call our office today at (585) 207-0088, or use our convenient online request form. We look forward to helping make a big difference in your life.
