If you have diabetes, you know that managing this disease is often a challenge. From monitoring blood sugar and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, living with diabetes isn’t always easy. That’s not to say, though, that individuals with diabetes can’t live exciting, fulfilling and healthy lives, despite their diagnoses. In fact, with the proper knowledge and information, diabetics can significantly enhance both physical health and quality of life. If you have diabetes, and are looking for ways to simplify and enhance your life, keep reading for tips, inspiration, and more.
Simple Meal Planning
By and large, one of the best ways to manage the symptoms of diabetes is through a healthy, balanced diet. However, even in light of the benefits of a diabetic-friendly diet, many patients cite meal planning as one of the most difficult aspects of treatment. The good news is that controlling diabetes through diet and nutrition can be simpler than you may realize. Tips like the following can help in creating a delicious, nutritious meal plan, designed to stabilize glucose levels and improve overall health and wellness.
- Keep it fresh. Although processed foods and meals are convenient, they can wreak havoc on virtually every aspect of health. Indeed, processed foods are typically void of nutrition, and contain excess amounts of sugar, sodium, preservatives and other harmful ingredients. Instead, stick to simple meals prepared with fewer, fresher ingredients.
- Handling unhealthy cravings. Many diabetics report intense cravings for sugary or otherwise unhealthy foods. Prevent these cravings by filling up on several small meals throughout the day. Snack on healthy, protein-rich foods like nuts and seeds, and try to keep fresh produce on hand for when those cravings strike. Also, keep unhealthy foods out of sight and out of my mind by refusing to stock your kitchen with sugary, carbohydrate-rich foods.
- Dining out. Restaurants can present a number of challenges for individuals with diabetes, and, for some, the temptation to indulge in unhealthy foods is overwhelming. Avoid temptation, and the resulting complications, by filling up on fresh vegetables, grilled or baked entrees and plenty of water.
- Enjoy variety. If you eat the same things, day after day, you’re probably going to get frustrated with your diet. However, if you enjoy a variety of foods and meals, you’re more likely to stay on track. Create dishes with seasonal produce, and swap healthy recipes with friends and family members.
Monitoring Made Easy
Thankfully, modern technology can be extremely useful when it comes to treating diabetes. Monitors, test strips, insulin pumps and other devices, like the ones found at ADW Diabetes, are designed to simplify the testing process, as well as enhance comfort and boost effectiveness. When it comes to monitoring blood sugar, newer, more effective technology can help you get a clear, true reading, each and every time.
Lifestyle Habits
In addition to healthy eating, a number of lifestyle choices can affect your blood sugar levels. Keep your illness in check by making healthy choices like the following:
- Get active. If you have type 2 diabetes, regular exercise can help you lose weight and keep glucose levels within a healthy range. Choose an activity you enjoy, and plan to work out at least thirty minutes a day, three or more days a week.
- Limit alcohol intake. Many alcohol beverages are loaded with sugar and carbohydrates. Plus, alcohol can damage the liver and kidneys, which is especially dangerous for diabetics. For these reasons, alcohol intake should be strictly limited, or eliminated entirely.
- Manage stress. Stress can result in high blood pressure, cardiovascular illness, nerve damage and more. Prevent these complications by learning how to manage stress, safely and effectively. Yoga, deep-breathing exercises, meditation and other relaxation techniques can be extremely helpful.
Planning for diabetes can be challenging, indeed; however, if you plan for success, you can keep symptoms in check and reduce the risk of complications. The tips provided here will help promote simpler living with diabetes, as well as enhance health and quality of life.
