Diabetes is a serious condition that can lead to some very serious consequences, but it doesn’t have to be that way. With the right knowledge and diabetes products, you can manage your diabetes and live a long and healthy life. Here are five tips for managing your diabetes:
Maintaining a healthy weight
One of the most effective ways to manage diabetes is to keep your weight in check. If you can maintain a healthy weight, it will help you avoid diabetes complications and reduce your risk of developing other health problems associated with being overweight or obese. For example, being overweight increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure and high cholesterol (a condition called metabolic syndrome). If you’re overweight or obese now but able to lose some pounds over time through diet and exercise – which we’ll talk about more below – this can also help prevent type 2 diabetes from developing later on down the road.
However, losing weight isn’t always easy: despite how appealing it may seem at first glance (after all: anything that could make our bodies work better sounds like something we should be doing), losing weight takes effort! But don’t be discouraged by this fact; there are many different ways for people living with Type 1 Diabetes to achieve success in their dieting efforts.
Control your blood pressure and cholesterol
If you have diabetes, controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol is important for keeping your body healthy. If you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol (or both), talk to your doctor about how to manage them. Ask about taking medications that can help lower the risk of heart disease in people with type 2 diabetes. You may also be able to get help from other professionals, such as nurses and dietitians at health centers that provide care for people with diabetes.
Exercise regularly
You may be surprised to learn that exercise is one of the most effective ways to manage diabetes. Regular physical activity can help lower blood glucose levels and even improve overall health and quality of life.
When you exercise, your body needs more energy. To meet this need, it uses glucose from your bloodstream as fuel. Exercise also helps boost your metabolism so that you can burn fat more efficiently throughout the day, even while at rest (a phenomenon known as “afterburn effect”).
Quit smoking
Smoking is a leading cause of diabetes. Smokers are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than non-smokers, and quitting smoking may help prevent or delay the onset of this disease. Smoking increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, both of which can lead to diabetic complications such as eye problems, kidney disease and nerve damage (neuropathy). In addition, smoking can also affect your blood sugar levels by increasing insulin resistance.
Smoking cigarettes may have serious effects on your eyesight in addition to other health problems caused by smoking. Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide gas that reduces oxygen delivery to tissues including the retina in your eyes. This causes permanent vision loss because there is not enough oxygen reaching the optic nerve cells in your retina where light gets converted into images that you see with your eyesight – this condition is called retinopathy.”
In the end, it’s important to remember that diabetes isn’t something you can cure overnight. It’s a lifelong condition, which means you’ll need to take care of yourself for the rest of your life.
