Taming Diabetes – The Easy Way
If you’re diabetic, you’ve probably heard enough about high blood sugar to last you a lifetime. Well, there is a way to hear a little less about your high blood sugar, and that is by lowering it! What’s more, lowering your blood sugar now may spare you from future complications.
Here are 3 simple ways that will guarantee to help you in lowering your blood sugar levels.
1. Eat Healthy
You’ve heard it: You are what you eat. What you’ve eaten over the course of your life has probably played a big part in your having diabetes. But now by turning over a new leaf and following some general dietary guidelines, you can help lower your blood sugar levels and get back in control of your life.
- Eat a balanced meal with healthy food choices and stay away from being overweight.
- Eat your meals on a regular schedule. You and your schedule can determine how many meals and how often you eat them.
- Try keeping the starchy food choices to those that are higher in fiber to beans, wholegrain breads, lentils and peas. The fiber has a way of slowing down the glucose in foods so that you will only experience a gradual rise in blood sugar levels.
- Eat plenty of fiber. Other fiber sources (and vitamins) include vegetables and fresh fruit. Stay away from canned foods that contain added sugary syrups and extremely sweet fruits.
-Reduce the amount of refined sugars in your diet by cutting back on soft drinks, pastry, and other sweet bakery items, candy, etc. The sugar in these foods is absorbed rapidly and can cause blood sugar to rise quickly.
- Eat a sensible amount of eggs, cheese, meat, fish, and any other high protein that is not high in fat. Fats can contribute to a diabetics increased risk of coronary heart disease.
- Salt intake should be limited because of the diabetic risk of higher blood pressure levels.
2. Exercise
Have you ever wondered why some people go to the gym and then rave about it? That’s because it works. Just know that you don’t have to sleep there to reap the benefits. Simple exercise such as walking, swimming, jogging can all be done regularly in moderation can assist in lower your blood sugar levels.
Exercising helps you to improve your body’s insulin and it also decreases the amount of excess fat which helps to improve your insulin sensitivity.
Exercise helps you to improve your muscle strength as well as increase your bone density. It also lowers your blood pressure, improves good cholesterol, lowers bad cholesterol, reduces stress which decreases tension and anxiety.
3. Reduce Stress
Being stressed out will sometimes cause a person to skip their medicine or their meals which have a direct impact on your blood sugar. If you are unable to eliminate stress, try finding ways you can manage it.
- As mentioned above, exercise, which gives a sense of well being, is a terrific way to release the tension and anxiety that contribute to stress. On the other side relaxation — muscle relaxation, deep breathing, even meditation and visualization — has equal importance in relieving some of the pressures that generate stress.
- Of course, do an attitude check. Be thoughtful and appreciate yourself and accept those things that cannot change. Look for the good in all things.
- Try not to bottle up your stress. Talk to someone you know such as a friend, co-worker, family or even a professional that will give you the support and insight you need during this time.
There is an art and science to controlling blood sugar levels. Follow these tips and guidelines and you will be on your way in mastering both.
When I learned that I (and my husband… and the cat) had type 2 diabetes, I was confused and overwhelmed. But diabetes isn’t a big problem just at my house. It’s a big – and growing – problem just about everywhere. So, I’ve decided to find out everything I can about type 2 diabetes that will help me, my husband, the cat, and you get it and keep it under control. If you’d like to learn more, please visit my blog Taming Type 2 Diabetes.
comment closed