5 Tips for Better Living with Diabetes

If you or someone you love has recently been diagnosed with diabetes, it can come as quite a shocking blow. That is a perfectly natural and expected response to being diagnosed with a chronic illness.

The good news is that, by working with your family and health care team, it is easy to come up with a plan to follow to still live your best life. Diabetes is a much more understood topic now than it was in the 1950s – doctors and scientists now know that it isn’t simply a “sugar problem”.

It is a complex condition that can seriously affect your health and well-being if you don’t take care of yourself and make the lifestyle changes that are necessary to help you live well.

Below are five of the best tips for better living with diabetes:

Take It Seriously

Although great advances have been made in the medical field regarding diabetes and its management, it is still a serious condition.

You need to take your diagnosis seriously, like making the required adjustments to your lifestyle, exercising more, and taking your medication as it is prescribed.

Lose Weight

Not every diabetes diagnosis is because of poor life choices, but many of them are.

Diabetes often stems from hereditary predispositions, but it can also be caused by not taking care of your body. Substance abuse, including the abuse of sugar and processed foods, can put too much strain on your body.

That is why people who have high BMIs get warned about developing the condition. Don’t wait until it’s too late to take care of yourself; people with diabetes can live a long and happy life – provided they take care of themselves and maintain a healthy weight.

Monitor Your Blood Sugar Levels

Diabetes is a disease in and of itself, but simply by having it – your chances of developing other severe conditions, such as heart disease, increase exponentially.

You must see your doctor at least twice a year, go for a comprehensive eye exam annually, and visit a podiatrist to keep an eye on your feet and the potential nerve damage caused by your diabetes.

Monitor your blood sugar levels by using the best smartwatch for diabetics, which will allow you to keep tabs on your readings and adjust your medication if need be.

Choose Healthier Foods

Being diagnosed with diabetes doesn’t mean you have to live on lettuce and water – quite the contrary. A well-balanced diet is packed with foods that are delicious and nutritious.

No foods are completely off-limits to diabetics, you just can’t stuff your face with pizza four times a week.

Choose to eat plenty of vegetables and whole grain foods, coupled with fat-free dairy and lean protein options. Carbs turn into sugar, so limit your carb intake and you shouldn’t have a problem keeping your readings in check.

Stay Physically Active

If you don’t lead an active lifestyle already, now is the time to start.

You don’t have to join a gym or sign up for boot camp – just be active for 30 minutes daily. The goal here is to breathe harder and break a sweat, and you can achieve that with a brisk walk or by cycling.

To End

Diabetes is a lot more understood nowadays than it was in the past. It isn’t a death sentence, but if you don’t lead a healthy lifestyle, then it will impact your quality of life – and ultimately cause untold damage to your body, and that could lead to premature death.