6 Valuable Tips To Live Healthy Life as a Diabetic
Tauheed Ahmad Nawaz
As a diabetic, there are numerous hurdles to go through daily. There are two types of diabetes: Type 1, 2, and gestational. Despite their differences, it doesn’t deny that patients must take the extra leap to ensure they’re on top of their conditions.
If you have diabetes, you should know it is essential to work with your health care professional to create and follow a healthy but flexible lifestyle plan that fits you! Use the six valuable tips below to help you live well with your condition.
Take a Step Further With Your Medication.
It goes without saying that you need to take your medicine to survive. Yet, many people are too busy and all over the place that they would second guess or forget if they got their medicine. It’s a big no-no for diabetes, no matter what type. As a patient, you should always be one step ahead of your illness.
To improve your medication intake, keep track of it in an organized manner. You can use a medication holder to keep any prescribed oral medications in place. It would help if you also considered using a mobile application that keeps track of the medications for you and reminds you what time to take them. If you don’t want to go through the hassle of doing all the abovementioned things, you can always place a recurring alarm on your mobile device as a reminder.
Furthermore, the medication for diabetes is undoubtedly expensive. Even with health insurance, paying for medications is no joke. You want to ensure that you have medical insurance and use coupons and discounts! You can save money using BuzzRX prescription savings cards for your diabetes medications! You can save money and time since your prescription drugs will be delivered right to your doorstep after a few good working days.
Check Your Numbers!
The key to living healthy as a person with diabetes is to check your numbers regularly. Monitor your blood pressure and blood glucose to stay within the recommended ranges. The golden rule for the recommended ranges is 126 mg/dL. However, it would depend on the range set by your doctor. So be sure to follow through with what your doctor advises you to. Since, as you may already know, it can be dangerous when your numbers aren’t within the normal range. Thus, this tip is for your safety and health.
Get Active.
Did you know that exercise can lower your blood sugar? It’s one of the natural ways you can get active, burn calories, control your weight, and lower your blood sugar. It’s also valuable when you want to strengthen your immune system since people with diabetes are pretty sensitive to sickness.
You can exercise for at least 30 to 60 minutes on most days. But, consult your physician before entering any exercise plan or fitness regimen.
Don’t Skip Any Meals.
Do you have Type 2 Diabetes? Then, you may experience a wreck in your sugar levels when you skip breakfast. Many people with diabetes believe skipping breakfast is good since you aren’t adding more calories to your system.
However, research would suggest that individuals with Type 2 Diabetes who skip breakfast have a higher blood sugar level throughout the day. Therefore, people with diabetes need a protein-rich breakfast daily to give them a feeling of fullness and a healthy lifestyle.
Eat Healthily!
Remember that what you eat affects your blood sugar. Therefore, eating healthy is crucial when you have diabetes. Although, you should know that no food is strictly off-limits. Since one’s blood sugar goes up and down, suddenly, you would have to eat food that depends on your blood sugar.
It would help if you eat healthy either. Focus on eating what your body needs. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, etc. Opt for lean meats and non-dairy items instead. Avoid foods that are high in fat and, of course, sugar.
However, you should know that certain fruits are high in fructose, a natural sugar. Therefore, avoid fruits like grapes, passionfruit, litchis, pomegranates, bananas, etc. These fruits aren’t advised for regular consumption since they may spike the blood sugar of those with diabetes. Instead, consider consuming diabetes-friendly fruits like berries, cherries, peaches, apricots, apples, oranges, pears, and kiwi.
Try to keep the carbohydrates, specifically starchy foods; you consume the same from meal to meal. Since, as you remember, carbohydrates turn into sugar, it’s a must that you watch how much carbs you intake. This section is much more crucial if you take drugs or insulin to keep your blood sugars under control.
Avoid Drinking Alcohol!
Did you know that alcohol is high in calories? It’s true! If you’re trying to drink and lose weight, you should consider cutting back. Also, if you’re taking diabetes medications or any medications altogether, it’s best to stay away from alcoholic drinks.
Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve read about what you can do to live healthily as a person with diabetes, you can use these tips daily. Incorporating and living with diabetes is no easy feat, but with great perseverance, and the will to listen to your physicians and health care team, you, too, can learn how to live life normally.