Managing diabetes: How to stay healthy

Diabetes cannot be cured but it can be managed. And, managing diabetes is not difficult if you know how. While eating healthy is key to a healthy lifestyle, if you are suffering from diabetes everything, from what you eat to how much you eat and when you eat is important.

What you eat affects your blood sugar. But you don’t have to give up on your favourite food. Maintaining a balance of the food you eat with exercise and medications can lower the risks of complications in case of chronic diabetic condition.

The fact is, you can eat the foods you enjoy but you need to trim the portions - eat only as much as your body needs.

Here are foods that can help you check your blood sugar and make you happy and healthy:

·        Green leafy vegetables

·        Whole grains

·        Low fat dairy milk products

·        Protein: Chicken, fish, eggs, nuts, legumes and beans

·        Fruits: Apple, banana, orange and berries C

Healthy eating and staying physically active is crucial for a diabetic patient. Here are healthy habits for a diabetic lifestyle:

Avoid skipping breakfast: Skipping breakfast affects glucose metabolism. Breakfast helps maintain steady blood glucose levels. Having heavy meals or lunch without breakfast can shoot up the blood insulin level.

Balance your diet and medication: It is advisable that you maintain a balance between your diet and medication as the imbalance can lead to a disaster- hypoglycemia or low blood sugar may be caused if food is taken lesser to the proportion to your medications and hyperglycemia or high blood sugar if food intake is too much.

Exercise: Exercise makes it easier to control diabetes. Exercise improves blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes, besides improving heart health and emotional well being. It is not necessary to join gym or involve in heavy physical work- just some light activities such as housework, a walk or gardening can improve your blood sugar.

Avoid beverages: Avoid soda and fruit drinks because they cause blood sugar to rise quickly.

Diabetes can be treated. Don’t delay it. Try these tips for a healthful life!