Combination Diet to Lower Blood Sugar

A crucial factor in controlling diabetes and its effects on the body is lowering blood sugar. With a combination of healthy diet, exercise, monitoring and, in some cases medication, blood sugar can be lowered in the majority of people diagnosed with diabetes.

Get the Facts

• Knowing what diabetes is and how it affects your body will enable you to become an active participant in managing your disease. Thanks to ongoing research and advancements in the treatment of diabetes, there are numerous sources available for learning about this disease and how to control it.

  Your healthcare provider is your first line of defense. He will be able to guide you in regard to what type of diabetes you have, what other diagnostic tests may be necessary and whether you will need medication along with diet and exercise to control your blood sugar. He will also give you a schedule for monitoring your blood sugar and critical follow-up tests that need to be performed on a regular basis. Your physician can also refer you, if necessary, to an endocrinologist, a doctor who specializes in treating conditions such as diabetes, and a nutritionist to help map out a personalized diet plan.

  The American Diabetes Association is an authority on this subject as well. A visit to their website, diabetes.org, will provide you with a wealth of information on the latest treatments, diet advice and even ways to help prevent diabetes. The Mayo Clinic is another recognized leader in health information resources. Their website is MayoClinic.com and is well worth a stop on your journey for information.

Get Healthy

• The diabetic diet is not a bizarre collection of new and unusual foods or routines that must be followed. Rather, it is simply eating healthy. While this is something many of us may plan to do some day, it must become a way of life for the diabetic. The major goal is to help prevent the life-threatening complications that can occur with diabetes. However, the upside is that eating to control your blood sugar can provide added bonuses such as weight loss, improved energy and other positive results a good nutritional plan offers.

  The American Diabetes Association recognizes several methods for planning your meals as a diabetic. Seek advice from your healthcare provider about which might work best for your age, weight, and activity level. Also keep in mind that other conditions, such as hypertension or high cholesterol, may play a role in which foods find their way to your plate. In the end, however, once you have chosen your method for meal planning, you will simply be following a diet that provides the appropriate balance of the basic food groups.

  It is hard to ignore that along with diet, healthy means increased physical activity and regular exercise. For the diabetic, physical activity and exercise mean lower blood sugar. As always, check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program, but consider it as important to your health as electricity is to your life. Get moving and get control of your blood sugar!