Comprehensive Nutrition Strategies and Weight Management for People With Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes is a chronic condition that requires daily monitoring of food intake, activity levels and lifestyle factors. A long-term nutrition and weight management program is essential for maintaining a full, active and healthy life. Controlling daily blood sugars is the cornerstone of diabetes management. Blood sugars are affected not only by what you eat, but also by how often you eat, how much you eat at one time, and how active or sedentary you are. Diabetes management requires awareness of all of the complex factors affecting blood sugar levels.-
Consult Your Doctor
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Talk to your doctor about your condition. Together, you can work to develop nutrition strategies and an exercise plan. Not all people who suffer from diabetes are alike and a plan that is best for you and your condition should be designed in consult with a medical professional. Create a plan that you can realistically follow. Be honest with your doctor about what you can and cannot stick to over the long term. Write the plan down and go over it frequently.
Diet
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With your doctor, decide what types of foods to include or to exclude from your diet. As part of your plan, your doctor may recommend that you eat few refined sugars or carbs. Carbohydrates can cause sharp spikes in blood sugars. Your plan may include more vegetables and proteins, which cause blood sugar to rise less quickly.
Be Consistent
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Be consistent in your eating habits. Your plan may suggest that you eat small, frequent meals at the same time every day. When you eat is just as important as what you eat and how much. Together with your doctor, set specific times for meals and stick to those times. Always coordinate your eating plan and your medications as directed by your doctor.
Exercise
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Ask your doctor about what kind of exercise is right for you. Once you decide on an exercise plan, stick to it. Be honest with yourself about what you can accomplish at this point in time. Create a plan that you can realistically can follow right now. Even very moderate daily exercise can be beneficial in the long term.
Educate Yourself
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Educate yourself about your condition. Use the resources listed below to learn more about diabetes and about the importance of exercise and nutrition. Find support groups to help you follow your individual diet plan. Find exercise partners to help you stick to your exercise plan. Talk to your doctor frequently and don't be afraid to ask questions about aspects of your disease that you don't understand.
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