A ‘sugar patient’ is sometimes referred to as someone living with diabetes. This is because there is too much sugar in their bloodstream and not enough insulin to regulate it. Diabetes is a chronic condition that is characterised by the body’s inability to produce enough insulin or efficiently use the insulin it has produced. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the amount of sugar in the blood.
Diabetes has no cure or treatment, and one can only hope to manage it well. If managed properly, diabetes may not pose a real threat, and a person may be able to lead their life normally, so long they do the right things.
In today’s post, we will be looking at some of the health tips someone living with diabetes can follow. Here are some important health tips for ‘sugar patients’.
1. Keep Fit
One of the things you can do to help yourself as a sugar patient is to stay active and keep fit. This means you should get to exercise regularly.
The word ‘exercise’ tends to scare some people, as they think of high-intensity workouts, but you do not have to do any of that. Simply jogging, skipping, or even swimming for 30 minutes a day can be very good for you. Anything to keep your heart pumping.
Exercises would help to reduce your blood sugar levels, as a lot of energy is used for these workouts. This can help to greatly control your diabetes. Another benefit of working out is that it can help you shed a few pounds. Being overweight can be bad for your health at this point.
2. Eat Right
Paying more attention to your diet is also very important. Besides eating foods that are rich In nutrients, there are some foods you need to reduce, especially foods that are high in sugar or carbs.
As a rule, you should go for foods with low glycemic index foods. These include complex carbohydrates that are slowly broken down and digested, and absorbed into the body.
Because of the rate of absorption, such foods do not cause a sharp spike in blood sugar levels.
Examples of low GI foods include whole grains (like oats, brown rice, millet, and whole wheat, including whole-grain bread and cereals), legumes like beans and peas, yams, potatoes, beans, fish, chicken, eggs, peas, vegetables, and so on.
Avoids processed foods and sodas, as they have very high sugar and fat content.
3. Go For Checkup Regularly
You do not have to wait until something is visibly wrong before you go to the doctor for a checkup.
You should ensure that you go for checkups as often as you can, even when everything seems alright.
Besides your blood sugar levels, there are other things that would be examined, including your blood pressure levels, cholesterol levels, your oral health, if you have any cuts or swellings around your feet, and so on.
As with anything else, early detection is key to proper treatment. So the sooner a problem is spotted, the better.
4. Avoid Stress
Whenever you are stressed, your blood sugar levels will go up. Also, when you become anxious, it will be difficult for you to manage your diabetes well. Stress and anxiety can make you to forget to exercise, eat right, or take your medicines.
Hence, it’s imperative to avoid stress and anxiety. Alternatively, look for ways to relieve stress, such as deep breathing, relaxing, reading or any other hobbies that relax you.
5. Quit Smoking
There is no other way to say it. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, then you should quit smoking. Diabetes patients who smoke are more likely than those who don’t smoke to experience issues with insulin dosing and with managing their condition.
Furthermore, you need to also avoid alcohol.
Conclusion
Having diabetes can be a challenge, however, adhering to these health tips for sugar patients will help you stay healthy and manage your condition successfully.
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While it can be hard, you can help yourself by slowly cutting back on how often you smoke until you gradually stop it.
