What To Do When Diagnosed With Diabetes
A lot of people find themselves in a state of shock when newly diagnosed with diabetes. According to the latest study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 30.3 million Americans live with this diagnosis nowadays. Meanwhile, 84.1 million people in the United States have prediabetes (if not treated, it leads to diabetes).
Untreated type 2 diabetes can lead to extreme thirst, sweet-smelling breath, risk of heart disease, visual disturbances, high blood pressure, glaucoma, fatigue, and even loss of consciousness. That’s why it is better to be aware of what’s happening with you. If you or your friend has been recently diagnosed with diabetes, there are a few things you should know about this condition and its treatment:
Finding out you have diabetes can be quite difficult, but there are several ways you can manage your condition better. One of the biggest issues you’ll find when living with diabetes is the finances and budgeting for your lifestyle.
This is where online services such as TestStrips4Money.com can come handy. They offer quick cash when you sell diabetic test strips, and they even pay on the same working day. Services like this allow diabetics to manage their finances better, allowing them to make some extra revenue on the side with little effort.
Understand diabetes
There are two main types of diabetes: type 2 and type 1. In both cases, it is a condition when your blood glucose levels are too high. Many factors can cause diabetes – environmental factors (e.g., viruses) genes, and lifestyle factors such as poor nutrition or lack of exercise. Type 2 diabetes is more common among adults.
High glucose levels in the blood can lead to severe health issues. However, your condition is not a verdict. Millions of people live with this disease. On the other hand, there are plenty of cheapest diabetes products, diet plans, and exercise programs that you can combine and live a healthy life.
In 2015, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study on the risk of death linked to diabetes; it reveals that the right medications, screening, and better awareness can increase the life expectancy of people who have this condition. The doctors state that ignoring the problem can reduce life expectancy by up to 20 years (in case of type 1 diabetes). That’s why you need to make every effort to ensure you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Apart from learning everything about the disease, make sure to ask your doctor about the medication you need to take. Ask about the frequency of taking them and whether your medicine interacts with any other drugs you are talking at the moment.
Exercise plan
Regular exercise is one of the most essential parts of treatment diabetes. It can help make your muscles more sensitive to insulin, improve blood sugar levels, decrease blood pressure, increase your energy levels, and foster weight loss. The daily exercise plan for people with diabetes should include stretching, pushing, lifting, cardiovascular activity, or aerobic. It is recommended to stay active five days per week. If you can’t get used to it, start with something small. For instance, you can go for a walk with your friends or family members, play with kids, and take the stairs instead of elevator. Say yes to everything that implies physical activity.
Reshape your thinking and understand that incorporating activity into your routine is the only way to go. Let’s not forget that it will also make you look more attractive ( let it be something that can motivate you as well ).
Diet plan
Having diabetes doesn’t mean you can’t eat food you like so much; you can eat it in smaller portions and not so often. According to the American Diabetes Association, patients with this condition can eat sweets as long as it is combined with regular exercise and a healthy diet.
There are a few things you need to consider while developing your diet plan. First of all, create a schedule for eating since this condition can’t tolerate chaotic food intake. If you already have a schedule in your life (like a full-time job), it won’t be a problem to choose meal timing and your frequency of meals.
Include into your daily eating plan vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, peppers, potatoes, leafy greens, green beans, and corn. Avoid high sugar fruits such as watermelon; instead, you can eat oranges, bananas, apples, grapes, berries, and melon. Also, make sure to eat plenty of grains (oats, rice or barley) and proteins (eggs, fish, peanuts, dried beans, skinless chicken, fish).
There are some foods you will have to avoid in order to reverse diabetes:
Salty foods (salty peanuts, potato chips)
Fried foods
Sugary foods (ice cream, cakes, candies)
Energy drinks
As you can understand, you can eat a lot of tasty and healthy meals. If you need some help, you can always ask your doctor to design your diet.
Surround yourself with people
Being diagnosed with diabetes might be pretty frustrating, that’s why you need to create your own support team that will be observant to drops in blood pressure and that can help you exercise for at least half an hour every day. Share your worries with your loved ones, and let them be there for you.
It is important to mention that there are no magic pills when it comes to treating diabetes. That’s why you should be careful with different dietary supplements, prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and alternative medicines. In order to improve your condition, follow specific insulin and medication routine, keep yourself active, and start eating healthy.