Diabetes is a disease that has to do with the level of blood sugar. There are two types of diabetes, appropriately named Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes means that your body doesn’t make insulin so you have to take insulin every day to stay alive. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is when your body doesn’t make or use insulin well. Today we’d like to discuss some tips to help with the management of diabetes.
Balanced Meals
If you are living with diabetes, you know that you have to actively monitor your blood sugar levels and overall health every day. One strategy you can use to help manage your diabetes is to actively monitor what you eat. The Mayo Clinic recommends making every meal well balanced. This means that you want your plate to be full of color, just like you were told when you were a kid! In addition to incorporating fruits and vegetables into your diet, you’ll also want to monitor the mix of proteins, fats, and starches that you are eating every day. Keeping a food journal can help you take inventory of what you are eating and recognize where you need to make changes. You should also be cautious with sugary foods that are high in calories as they cause the blood sugar levels to skyrocket.
Carb-Intake
Did you know that carbohydrates often have the biggest impact on your blood sugar levels? This is especially important if you are taking insulin at mealtime so you know how much insulin to give.
Portion Control
When you are figuring out what you need in your diet to ensure that you are getting the right amount of each type of food, you should also pay attention to portion control. If you’re new to portion control, you’ll find that you can have a lot of different types of food in the day but in smaller portion sizes than you may be used to.
Meals & Medication
It is important to make sure that you are coordinating your medications with a meal so you do not take them on an empty stomach and cause your blood sugar level to drop!
Exercise
Exercise is also an important part of managing diabetes. You should be sure to talk to your doctor to discuss your exercise goals and develop an exercise regimen that would be appropriate for you. Call us today or click here to schedule an appointment.
Stress
Stress is an inevitable part of a lot of people’s everyday lives. When you’re stressed for a long time, this can actually cause your blood sugar levels to rise. For this reason, it is important to look for patterns when you feel stressed. You can take note of when you are feeling stressed in your food journal that you are already writing your meals down in. This way you can easily see if any patterns exist. Then, you can work on coping strategies that you can also talk about with your doctor.
Overall, you need to take an active approach to manage diabetes. The tips here are a great place to start but you should always consult a doctor to develop an individualized plan for your diabetes management program. Call QCA today to schedule an appointment and receive free diabetic education through the Washington County Health Department. This one-on-one support is available for newly diagnosed patients with diabetes and patients with a diabetic history.