By Jack Dowson
Diabetes is a difficult disease to deal with, mainly due to the fact that there are no quick ways to overcome it. You have to change and adapt your lifestyle to lead a healthy life. According to WHO, there are around 246 million people worldwide living with diabetes, which is almost 6% of the world’s population. So anyone affected with diabetes shouldn’t feel dejected, lonely and hopeless. You are not alone in this. There are millions of people around the world who lead a healthy and happy life even with diabetes. If they can, you also can. All you have to do is to bring on some healthy changes to your lifestyle. So here are some tips that will help you to live a happy and fulfilling life with diabetes.
Image credit: https://pixabay.com/en/salad-fresh-food-diet-health-374173/
Start Doing
There is no easy way out of this. You have to include some sort of physical activity in your daily routine. It not only maintains your blood sugar level but also helps to manage your weight and also lower your blood pressure. Working out doesn’t mean getting into hardcore exercise routine. Start by taking short walks and gradually increasing the duration and intensity. Also try cycling, swimming or dancing, these activities are not just exercises but also is fun. They not only help your body but also your mind in the long run. After all, “A healthy mind resides in a healthy body”.
Resort to healthy snacks
However well you have eaten your breakfast or lunch, at some point of the day you are bound to feel hungry. At times like these you need to have some healthy snacks. So you should be equipped with healthy snacks rather than waiting around the hunger pangs to strike you thereby causing a drop in your blood sugar levels. So stock up some healthy snacks which appeals to your taste buds. Any snack or serving that contain less than 5 carbohydrates are healthy. Some of the snacks which satisfies that criteria are 15 almonds, one serving of string cheese, one cup of light popcorn, one boiled egg, one orange, half a turkey sandwich, two rice cakes with one table spoon of peanut butter or one cup of raw vegetable strips with 1/3 cup hummus.
Prepare for an emergency
Diabetes patients have the risk of being subjected to hypoglycemia. No need to worry, it is just the medical term for abnormally low blood sugar levels. So at times like these you need something to quickly boost your blood sugar levels, so you must be equipped with it beforehand. What you need is about 15-20 grams of glucose or carbohydrates, which can be obtained from glucose tablets or from two table spoons of raisins or four ounces of juice.
Take care of your feet
When you are affected by diabetes it is extremely important to take care of your feet, as diabetes increases the risk of developing certain problems to your feet including fungal infections like athlete’s foot. Also, elevated blood sugar levels can result in nerve damage and poor circulation to your feet which may cause to develop a blister or ulcer which you may not even realize until it gets infected. So each day before going to sleep, carefully examine your feet. If you notice the skin breaking down on any part of your foot, let your doctor know. Also it is necessary to get your feet examined at least once a year. Also, the most important preventive measure to keep of feet trouble is selecting the shoes which are comfortable to your feet. The shoes that you wear should fit your feet very well. Similarly the socks which you wear also matter. Choose socks which are made of a breathable, moisture-wicking fabric. In fact, socks which specially made for diabetes patients are available in the market now.
Keep a check on alcohol consumption
Once you have diabetes, you must be extremely cautious about alcohol consumption. Your blood sugar level may rise slightly after you drink alcohol followed by a slight drop few hours later. It doesn’t mean you have to completely stop having a drink, one drink per day for women and two per day for men is ok. If you are in the habit of consuming cocktails, you should be extremely cautious about the mixers as colas and juices can add extra calories and thereby boost your blood sugar level.
So these are some healthy tips to help you lead a happy life with diabetes. An extra bit of caution can be an extremely fruitful for everyone with diabetes.
Author: Maralyn
Maralyn Dennis Hill, The Epicurean Explorer, is president emeritus of International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association, member of Society of American Travel Writers, and Society of Professional Journalists. She is Executive Editor of Luxe Beat Magazine and contributes to other publications. She also speaks and is a guest on many shows. The majority of Maralyn’s articles are now geared to the luxury market, spas, corporate retreats, business events, and culinary tourism, from simple to gourmet. Maralyn’s description of herself: I was born to travel and tell the tale. I’m energized by different cultures in every aspect of their lives, from food, wine, and destination, to how they conduct business. Travel represents a continual geography lesson.
