Some helpful tips for diabetes prevention and management

From thenorthernlight.com

Diabetes prevention and management is a growing nationwide concern, and in Washington state, it’s no different. One in three adults has prediabetes, according to the Washington State Department of Health, and it’s estimated that around 10 percent of adults in our state have type 1 or 2 diabetes.

Despite those rather alarming statistics, there have never been more ways to help treat this incurable disease and prevent life-altering complications. Diabetes management tools have rapidly expanded in the last decade. Today, there are approximately 65 different medications that can be utilized to help people manage their blood sugars.

Successful treatment of diabetes and prevention of complications fall on the shoulders of both doctors and their patients, who must understand how the disease affects them individually.

Besides getting on the right medication, the biggest thing patients can do is incorporate physical activity and a blood sugar-friendly diet. Newly diagnosed patients should also try to attend a diabetes education course and, if possible, meet with a professional nutritionist – someone who is best equipped to help suggest proper dietary adjustments.

Seeing a doctor about their diabetes means committing to a path of personal wellness that’s more than medication-based. And diabetes management is not passive. It involves actively engaging in lifestyle changes necessary to keep people healthy.

Regarding nutrition, what is far more common than eating unhealthy foods is eating too much. Here are three tips to monitor nutrition: control portion sizes; time meals appropriately; and review the actual nutritional content of what is consumed.

Regarding exercise, overweight or obese patients, or those not otherwise engaged in regular exercise, have work to do. If you join a gym, you need to hold yourself accountable to actually go and work out. A great place to start with exercise is to establish the practice of going for daily walks.

Regardless of what one chooses for regular exercise, establishing a healthy routine will pay dividends. Furthermore, most patients likely won’t need to do more than the average 150 minutes of moderate physical activity recommended each week for healthy individuals.

However, patients should also figure out their individual blood sugar levels before and after exercise, so that they can exercise safely without potential spikes or crashes.

Despite the importance of personal responsibility, it’s important to not be too hard on yourself. It’s important to understand the complexity of the disease, and that it still requires medical intervention no matter how hard you try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. 

Some people can eat salad every day and exercise hard five days a week, and still struggle with blood sugar. Metabolically, there’s a lot of other “stuff” going on that keeps blood sugars high.

Not properly treating diabetes can lead to a host of complications, some of which can be fatal. One of the most common complications is the risk of cardiovascular disease and events like heart attacks and strokes. Also common are diabetic neuropathies, especially peripheral neuropathy, which result in weakness, numbness or pain from nerve damage, usually in the hands and feet. 

With no cure for diabetes, managing the disease is essential to surviving with it long-term. It’s an investment of time, energy and money, but an investment in your health and happiness is always the best investment you can make. 

This article is courtesy of PeaceHealth Medical Group – Primary Care at 4545 Cordata Parkway in Bellingham.

https://www.thenorthernlight.com/stories/some-helpful-tips-for-diabetes-prevention-and-management,9743