These Healthy Habits Will Reduce Your Risk of Complications
Diabetes causes excessive levels of sugar in the bloodstream. The increased blood sugar causes detrimental effects within the body, including increased pressure in the eyes, damage to nerves and blood vessels, damage to the kidneys and high blood pressure. That means you need to develop some healthy habits!
Diabetes management is about keeping sugar levels as close to normal as possible to reduce the risk of complications. These complications, such as blindness, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, amputation, impotence and bladder infection, usually reduce the quality of life and increase mortality.
Many people require insulin or drugs to help them produce insulin or reduce blood sugar levels. However, diet and exercise are also extremely important for blood sugar control and may be enough alone to regulate blood sugar levels in type II diabetics. Other lifestyle factors also help control blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of complications.
Here are some healthy habits you should consider:
1. Regular Aerobic Exercise
Aerobic exercise works the muscles and improves metabolism and circulation. Muscles use a lot of sugar for energy; working the muscles removes sugar from the blood and improves the body’s response to insulin, which allows better control of blood sugar levels.
Aerobic exercise also helps with weight control. Aim for 30 – 60 minutes of exercise per day. You might try walking, water aerobics, jogging or cycling. Choose something you enjoy so you will be more inclined to continue doing it.
Buy a fitness tracker so you can keep track of your activity levels and stay motivated. Eat just before exercise and keep some food on hand to avoid your sugar levels dropping too low.
How many carbs should a diabetic have in a day? There's no clear answer, as it depends on activity levels and types of carbs consumed. Learn more here.
