Diabetes Five Ways to Control It

According to Medical News Today, diabetes or diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood glucose or blood sugar. Blood sugar could be high either because the individuals cells do not process insulin properly or the insulin production is not adequate.

There are several types of diabetes including Type I, Type II and gestational diabetes. Type II is the most common, comprising approximately 90% of all cases worldwide. Under this type the individuals body does not produce enough insulin or the bodys cells have become insulin resistant. Type I diabetes is less common, comprising approximately 10% of all diabetes cases. For Type I diabetes the pancreas produces little to no insulin.

Type II diabetes can generally be controlled by doing a variety of activities such as losing weight, following a healthy diet, doing plenty of exercise, and monitoring blood glucose levels. Failing to take the proper steps, however, will ensure the disease will get worse, and insulin may be needed to avoid some of the more serious complications including stroke, kidney disease, blindness, high blood pressure and amputation.

So what are some steps you can take to control your diabetes? Below we will discuss the five of the most common steps.

Five Common Steps to control Diabetes

1. Get Medical Help

The first step to controlling diabetes is to understand the problem. This may require consistent visits to your doctor. Do you know what you should and should not be doing for your disease? If not, its time to seek professional advice. You may also be able to get a referral to a registered dietitian who can answer your questions about your glucose levels and what foods you should eat and when to eat them.

2. Get the right amount of exercise

There are a variety of reasons why many people do not exercise: they dont have time, they are too tired, they are too out of shape, etc. The truth is that everyone who exercises has made it a priority. They have put it on their calendar. But consider, the buff guy at the gym didnt always look like that. There was a day in time he made the decision to go to the gym. Start with baby steps and dont do too much too soon. Exercise is critical to controlling your diabetes. It can improve your bodys ability to process insulin and lower your blood sugar.

3. Do I need to lose weight?

Although getting to a health weight is critical for diabetes maintenance, it may be simpler than you think. Forget confusing diet plans, measurements or purchasing special dietary food products. Just think smaller portion sizes and more movement.

4. Get Plenty of Fiber

Step four is to get plenty of fiber, which means its time for you to start eating foods high in fiber include fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts and seeds. There will be several benefits to getting more fiber. It will make you feel fuller, it will help with weight loss, and it will also help control your blood sugar levels.

5. Eat Whole Grains

Finally, eat foods made with whole grains. This step, along with getting plenty of fiber, will help control your blood sugar levels. So when you get ready to eat a variety of breads, pasta products and many cereals check the labels and make sure they are made with whole grains.