According to the CDC, an estimated 29 million people in the United States have diabetes. If you are one of them, you certainly aren't alone. Thankfully, managing your condition and leading a normal life can still be possible. Here are a few treatment options your doctor at ProMed Clinics will likely recommend.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Diabetes occurs when your body does not properly produce or use insulin. The result is that your blood sugar remains too high or too low, causing you symptoms such as increased hunger or thirst, excessive tiredness, frequent urination, blurred vision and frequent infection.
The best way to keep your blood sugar at a stable level is to eat a healthy diet. In general, you will want to consume plenty of healthy fruits, vegetables and whole grains while limiting simple carbohydrates and sweets, which can cause your blood sugar to spike and crash. Aiming for foods that are low on the glycemic index can also be helpful.
Monitor Your Blood Sugar
If your body is not effectively monitoring and managing your blood sugar for you, you may have to do it yourself. There are many ways to monitor your blood sugar, and not all of them are inconvenient or painful. By regularly monitoring your blood sugar, you should quickly learn the effect that certain foods have on your blood sugar as well as the symptoms you feel at each stage. Knowing this information can help you choose healthy foods at just the right intervals.
Exercise Regularly
Physical activity is a great way to keep your body in top shape and to keep your blood sugar from climbing too high. A combination of aerobic exercises and resistance training exercises generally works best and helps keep your routines from becoming too boring.
Be careful, however, as exercising can cause your blood sugar to dip too low. Pay attention to how you feel and be sure to stop and have a snack if needed.
Take Medication
While diet and lifestyle changes can go a long way towards helping you manage your diabetes, for some people, diet and lifestyle changes alone simply aren't enough. If so, your doctor will also likely want you to take a certain medication or to try insulin therapy in conjunction with these healthy lifestyle changes.
Speak to your doctor at Lawrence Delano Tran, M.D.to find out if medication might be right for you. Call Today!