Take Control of Your Health: Learn How to Manage Your Diabetes
If you have diabetes, you need to know how to properly manage it in order to make sure you keep your health in as good of a condition as possible. The most important thing is to keep your blood sugar in check, that is, make sure it remains in a healthy range. Living with diabetes is not without its share of challenges, but it doesn’t have to be daunting at all, because there are certain steps that you can take in order to manage your diabetes and take complete control of your health.
Your health is your greatest asset, so you need to make sure you take really good care of it and, when it comes to diabetes, you need to learn everything you can about it, so that you can know how to manage it properly. You need to tend to your health every single day, because you are the only one responsible for it. Don’t forget to consult with your doctor, because it is the best way to know exactly how to stay healthy.
Nevertheless, here’s what you can start doing immediately in order to deal with your diabetes and improve your overall health.
Regularly Check Your ABC Levels
ABC stands for A1C, Blood pressure, and Cholesterol, and you need to check their levels regularly in order to reduce the risk of a stroke, heart attack or some other diabetes problems. The A1C test is a blood test that shows your average level of blood sugar over the period of past three months and you should do it 2 to 4 times a year.
You need to check your blood pressure every time you go to your doctor’s, so that you can make sure it doesn’t get too high. If it does, your doctor will tell you everything you need to do in order to lower your blood pressure and keep it in a healthy range. You also need to test your blood for cholesterol levels (both good and bad cholesterol), which you should do once a year in order to make sure everything is in check.
Exercise on a Daily Basis
Staying physically active can greatly help you manage your diabetes, so make sure you exercise every day. Exercise doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym, as regular walks and dancing also count as exercise. In order to know what type of exercise is best for your health, you should consult with your doctor before working on any exercise plan.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Good nutrition is crucial not only for managing your diabetes, but also for your overall health. You need to eat a lot of different nutritious foods that will help you keep your blood sugar in a healthy range. You certainly know that you need to eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, and those that have the most minerals and vitamins that you can use are broccoli, spinach, carrots and green beans, among many others, so make sure you include those in your everyday diet.
You also need lean meats and fish, not to mention that you should always choose whole grain foods over processed products. When it comes to dairy products, you should make sure they are low-fat and, speaking of fat, you should prepare your meals with liquid oils instead of solid fats (for instance, olive oil and peanut oil instead of lard and butter). Also, in order to maintain a healthy blood sugar level, avoid soda and various other drinks that contain a lot of sugar, but instead drink plenty of water and drinks that don’t contain calories.
It can be a bit tough to manage your diabetes during the holidays, because you may not be able to eat the foods that are healthy for you, but you don’t have to worry, because there are some steps you can take in order to prepare for the holiday meals in advance and make sure you take care of your health as much as possible.
When you have diabetes, following the aforementioned steps is absolutely crucial for your health, so make sure you apply those steps and never miss your doctor’s appointment, since your doctor can provide you with the best plan for managing your diabetes and staying healthy.
