Omaha Diabetes Specialist: Lifestyle Changes After a Diabetes II Diagnosis

Diabetes is a significant nightmare among most people. Various factors cause this condition, including little insulin and poor response to the insulin produced by the pancreas. In brief, diabetes II develops when the body cannot make enough insulin or respond to it accordingly. Yet, sometimes, this condition could be inevitable. In such instances, a medical expert will advise you to reconsider various lifestyle choices, forcing you to embrace the following.

Frequent Exercises

Undoubtedly, exercising is an excellent decision for anyone living with diabetes II. Frequent exercises will help balance the glucose levels in your body, enhance insulin sensitivity, and counter insulin resistance. At the same time, expect your body cells to use glucose in a much better way. Studies show that exercising lowers your HbAc1 levels by 0.7 percentage points.

Various exercises come in handy when dealing with diabetes II. Enough physical activity is an essential element of your treatment plan, meaning that you’ll need to prioritize it. However, it would help to focus on low-impact exercises, assuring better diabetes management. Aerobic and resistance training have proven much more reliable in diabetes management.

You can choose from different low-impact exercises. For instance, brisk walking has proven the best move for most people. It is a moderate-intensity exercise that puts less strain on you. You could also consider cycling, swimming, weightlifting, and resistance band exercises.

Nutrition

Diabetes II forces you to relook on your meal plan. This condition requires you to focus on a balanced diet, where low-carbohydrate foods are in plenty. Most experts, including the advice offered by Omaha diabetes specialist professionals, expect you to focus on nutrient-dense foods like fruits, legumes, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts. Lean proteins will also suffice in this aspect.

You’ll need to limit your refined carbohydrate intake. These refined carbs include sugar-sweetened foods, refined grain products, and fruit juices. Notably, avoiding these elements will help keep your sugar levels in check. An excellent alternative to refined carbs would be whole grain products and fiber-rich foods.

At the same time, it would help to choose heart-healthy foods, mainly nuts and oils. The best choices under this category include avocados, seeds, fatty fish, soybean products, olive oil, and sunflower oil.

Avoid Smoking

Suppose you were a fan of smoking before getting diagnosed with diabetes II. In this case, you’ll have to avoid smoking to keep your health in check. It is the surest way of enjoying enhanced longevity.

Usually, diabetes II makes you vulnerable to various health complications, including stroke, heart diseases, kidney issues, and nerve damage. You could also have foot issues and multiple eye conditions. Smoking increases the risk of contracting most of these health conditions.

In addition, smoking makes it hard for anyone to exercise or indulge in physical activities. That is because it strains the lungs, which are critical during physical activity. Understandably, quitting smoking can be challenging. However, you can get help from your medical expert. This professional will guide you to quit smoking, preferably not as instantly.

Limit Alcohol

You’ll need to be significantly wary about the amount of alcohol you take. Usually, beer makes it hard to control your blood sugar levels, meaning that quitting would be a perfect idea. However, it would help if you do not overdo it if you cannot stop.

Ensure that you check your blood sugar levels before taking alcohol. You might need to take steps that cushion you against low blood sugars. This way, you do not end up in a critical condition after taking your drink. At the same time, be cautious of the amount of alcohol you take, as some contain carbs.

In conclusion, lifestyle changes are inevitable after a diabetes II diagnosis. The changes mentioned above are the most common, yet you might need to make more.