Are you worried about how you can control your diabetes? Well, controlling your diabetes is a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly challenge. But the effort is definitely worth it. The key to dealing with your diabetes is to keep your blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible. Even though it sounds tough, there are simple steps you can follow. Read on to learn what you can do to control diabetes so it doesn’t control you!
Types of Diabetes
Listed below are the types of diabetes.
- Gestational Diabetes
- Type 1 Diabetes or Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus or IDDM or Juvenile Onset Diabetes
- Type 2 Diabetes or Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus or NIDDM or Maturity Onset Diabetes
Symptoms of Diabetes
The symptoms of diabetes are more likely to be similar as the blood sugar is high, either due to less or no production of insulin, or insulin resistance. Nevertheless, there are certain symptoms that can be commonly seen which are listed below.
- Blood sugar is poorly controlled
- Excessive sweating
- Delayed wound healing
- Numbness or tingling feelings in hands or feet
- Blurring of vision
- Recurrent infections
- Excessive tiredness
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urination
- Increased hunger
- Obesity
Tips for Diabetes Control
Making healthy lifestyle changes can be hard, but the payoff can be huge. Here are the key tips for better diabetes control.
- Maintain a healthy weight
If you are overweight, it is recommended that you lose some weight. This might seem like a daunting task, especially if you need to drop a lot of kilograms. It is always recommended to set short-term goals that are realistic to reach. Making small changes like taking the stairs instead of the elevator can definitely help you start shedding some weight.
- Healthy eating
Eating right can help keep your blood sugar where it needs to be. The two vital rules of a diabetes diet are eating smaller portions throughout the day and being mindful of how many carbohydrates you are eating. Choosing lean meats and lots of fresh veggies and cutting down on fats, starches, and sugary foods can help you stay on track. A dietician can help put a meal plan together. Some people with diabetes think they won’t ever be able to enjoy their favourite foods, but that is just not true. If you have diabetes it does not mean that you can never ever have a piece of cake again in your life! The key is portion control. You can just have a couple of bites to satisfy your craving and pass on the rest.
- Regular exercise
Regular exercise helps to stabilize blood sugar. What’s recommended is to have 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week for good type 2 diabetes management. If you are busy, try working in 10 minutes of active movement three times a day. A brisk walk around the block can do the trick. Or shake things up by going dancing, a fun way to get moving.
- Reduce your sugar intake
Remember that the consumption of added sugar translates to calories. Most of the added sugar comes from processed and prepared foods such as candy, cookies and sodas. Your body breaks down added sugars very easily, causing an almost immediate spike in blood sugar. The consumption of added sugars is associated with developing insulin resistance.
Conclusion
The main keys to better diabetes control are watching your weight, avoiding added sugars, exercising regularly and controlling your diet. These can help you avoid blood sugar spikes. Also, these have added benefits to your health beyond helping to control your blood sugar. That said, if you have any medical conditions or are on any medications, it is highly recommended to visit your nearby homeopathy clinic.
