Dietary and Lifestyle Changes to Manage Diabetes
Diabetes is a common condition that comes with certain health complications. Hence, it is always advisable and preferable to live a healthy lifestyle with a proper diet in place to control diabetes. It is important to add foods that help manage diabetes to your diet. You should intake a well-balanced diet. Reduce intake of salts and fats in your diet. Increase the quantity of green leafy vegetables and berries in your daily meals. Additionally, increase the amount of fiber in your diet.
Here are some foods you should consume to manage diabetes:
- Cinnamon
- Green leafy veggies
- Chia seeds
- Eggs
- Nuts
- Greek Yogurt
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Apple cider vinegar
Apart from consuming foods that help manage diabetes, it is important to make some lifestyle changes such as:
1. Weight management
Diabetes is difficult to manage if your weight is not under control. You need to manage your body weight with the removal of excess fat.
2. Routine exercises
Routine exercising is a must if you are suffering from any form of diabetes. It not only helps to control your weight but also helps in the reduction of blood glucose levels.
3. Proper sleep
Proper sleep is required to maintain blood sugar. Due to sleep deprivation, there is an increase of cortisol levels which is a factor responsible for increased blood sugar level.
4. Quit smoking
It is always better to quit smoking to be able to control diabetes. If you are unable to quit it completely, do make an effort to reduce smoking. It will help immensely to control diabetes.
5. Limit alcohol consumption
Controlling alcohol consumption is the next important tip that we would suggest if you want to manage diabetes. Excess amount of alcohol leads to increase in body weight along with an increase in blood pressure. This results in an escalation in the intensity of the disease.
6. Blood pressure control
If you have diabetes, then blood pressure control is necessary and vital. With escalating blood pressure, diabetes cannot be controlled easily. So, it is very essential that a person suffering from this disease should work to keep their blood pressure under control.
7. Avoid junk food
To control diabetes in a proper manner, it is essential for the person who is suffering from this disease to avoid consumption of outside food like takeaways, processed food, and pizzas. It will be beneficial to just have homemade meals comprising foods that help manage diabetes.
8. Undertake regular tests
You should go for regular urine and blood tests to check the level of sugar. If you are consuming foods that help manage diabetes, then your test results will come within prescribed limits.
9. Go for regular checkups
Visit your doctor for regular check-ups along with the test results. Depending on the test reports, they will alter your medications and doses.
By consuming foods that help manage diabetes, exercising regularly, and following the above-mentioned tips and tricks, you can control diabetes to a great extent.