Diabetes, though chronic, ban be controlled with lifestyle choices
Diabetes is a chronic condition, but people who have it can lead a full life once they learn how to keep their diabetes under control.
Diabetes can be treated with different medicines depending, in part, on your weight, other health conditions and whether you want to use a shot. Lifestyle changes also can help:
• Quitting smoking decreases your risk of death from heart attacks and strokes, kidney disease and foot ulcers or amputation caused by peripheral vascular disease.
• Regular exercise helps control type 2 diabetes even if you do not lose weight because it improves how your body responds to insulin.
• Drinking alcohol may cause a slight rise in blood sugar, followed hours later by a decrease in the blood sugar level with a risk of hypoglycemia. This risk lasts for up to 24 hours after drinking.
• Weight loss can help with your diabetes control and can reduce your risk for other health problems. You will also have more energy and feel better in general. Start with small steps to reach your goal, assess your environment and use food and physical activity trackers.
• Healthy eating is an essential part of diabetes treatment. You do not need to eat special foods if you have diabetes. Changing your diet is mostly about eating healthy foods and not eating too much.
Healthy eating
People with diabetes can eat the same foods the family enjoys, but diabetics need to think more about the carbohydrates they are consuming.
There are three main types of carbohydrates: starches (also known as complex carbohydrates), sugars and fiber. Carbohydrates have a big impact on your blood sugar levels – more than fats and proteins – but you don’t have to avoid them. You just need to be smart about what types of carbs you eat. Limit the highly refined carbohydrates such as white bread, pasta, rice, soda, candy and snack foods. Focus instead on high-fiber complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, whole-grain bread, peas or leafy greens.
How many carbohydrates you should eat varies by individual. It depends on many factors, including how active you are and what, if any, medicines you take. Some people are active and can eat more carbohydrates. A place to start is at about 45-60 grams of carbohydrates in a meal.
Keep in mind that sugar also is hidden in many packaged foods and fast-food meals. Reading food labels is a great way to know how many carbohydrates are in a food.
Eating healthful foods doesn’t have to be difficult, and everyone can benefit from healthy eating.
Sahar Hachem is an endocrinologist with Kansas Physician Group. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 316-260-1690 or visit kansasphysiciangroup.com.
This story was originally published November 27, 2015 at 1:29 PM with the headline "Diabetes, though chronic, ban be controlled with lifestyle choices."