More on National Diabetes Month – Tips

Living with diabetes is more than taking insulin or medication. Those who have diabetes or know someone who does knows that living with diabetes is a lifestyle.

Insulin or medications, like metformin or glucophage are not a cures for diabetes, although that is a common belief. Insulin and medications merely manage the disease, allowing the person with diabetes to continue living as normally as possible. Unfortunately, the disease still can cause significant damage to the body, as the sugar levels fluctuate.

People with diabetes who manage to keep their blood glucose (sugar) under strict control have a better chance of avoiding complications. However, avoiding the development of diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, is even better. Type 1, what used to be called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, cannot be prevented. But how best to do this? Here are some tips from Dr. Melina Jampolis a board certified internist and the newest addition to the CNN Health team:

Healthy Eating

By eating three servings (48 grams) of whole grains a day, you could decrease your chances of developing diabetes by up to 30%. According to Dr. Melina: “Cereal fiber has been found to be more effective than other types of fiber due to the combination of antioxidants and soluble and insoluble fiber included.”

Replace your junk food. If you enjoy chips, you may enjoy the crunchiness of omega-3 rich nuts, instead. Fruits can be very sweet tasting and are much healthier than snacks made with processed sugar.

Fill up. If you don’t feel hungry, chances are you won’t search for a snack, which is most likely laden with sugar and fat. Vegetables and proteins will keep you fuller than junky meals or ones that have a lot of carbohydrates.

Get Moving

Exercise is an important part of any healthy lifestyle, but is even more important for people with diabetes. However, exercise doesn’t have to be going to the gym and working out – you can find activity that pushes you in many of your every day activites. Dr. Melina asks, “Did you know doing 30 minutes of vacuuming is the equivalent of 15 minutes walking on the treadmill?”

It’s not often we can actually prevent a chronic and life-affecting disease such as type 2 diabetes, but the reality is, it’s often a lifestyle disease. Of course, there are people who develop diabetes and they have none of the traditional risk factors, but this is the exception more than the rule.

It’s time we start taking better care of ourselves, isn’t it?

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