Diabetes information is essential in patients who have either type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. When diagnosed with diabetes, the health implications can be devastating but understanding what the disease is and what changes you can implement to assist in leading a healthy life is important in controlling any ill effects. Making a few lifestyle changes and ensuring you have regular doctor checkups to monitor your progress is important in maintaining a healthy life. With a few simple changes you can enhance the quality as well as the length of life.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes that is diagnosed in people today. Many older people, past the age of thirty, are diagnosed with this condition. It is much rarer to see this in children and teens, though it does occur. The condition is based on the body not producing enough insulin or rejecting the insulin that is produced. Type 2 diabetes and health is a somewhat complicated course to navigate but a healthy diabetes diet and continual monitoring from your physician, you can decrease your risks of additional complications. Learning to live with this disease is tantamount in upholding your overall health and well being. Complications from type 2 diabetes include increasing your chances of heart disease and kidney disease, complications involving your eye sight, foot and skin problems and increased risk of stroke. These risks can be reduced, though.
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is generally diagnosed in children and young adults and is not as prevalent in older people. The term also used to be known as juvenile diabetes. This is where insulin is not produced in the body. Metabolism in diabetes mellitus plays a large part. However, there are lifestyle changes that can occur, including diet, that will help better control the effects and lessen the risk of more serious complications. Complications and additional health risks are similar to those of type 2 diabetes and include heart, nerve, muscular, skin and eye problems.
Exercise is one of the important lifestyle changes that should occur if you are diagnosed with diabetes. Exercise should be a regular activity in everyone’s life and there is no denying the benefits that can be gained from it. With diabetes, though, it is especially important to remain active. First, exercise will promote weight loss and will also kick start the metabolism. Both will allow your body to be more sensitive to the insulin that is produced in the body. Ensuring you start an exercise program if you do not yet have one is very important. Check with your doctor before embarking on anything, though, to ensure your activities match your fitness level. Walking, swimming and using a trampoline are good, low impact exercises that can help.
You will need to become educated about the different food groups and which foods have various characteristics. Your physician or a nutrition specialist will be able to assist you with this and give you lists of which types of foods are in each category. Eating foods that digest slower will help you reduce the after meal spike that sometimes occurs. Carbohydrates are a key element in the diabetes diet and will help control the after-meal spikes that occur in diabetics. Adjusting the amount of fatty foods you consume is also an important aspect of maintaining a healthy diabetes diet. It not only will help reduce calories, thus allowing you to lose weight but will also help you process the insulin produced in your body.
It often helps diabetics to eat more often as opposed to eating breakfast, lunch and dinner. Eating smaller portions of food more frequently can often give a more even feeling and keep insulin levels steadier throughout the day. If you are prescribed medications, either oral medications or insulin shots, it is important to take them per the physicians directions. Do not skip or delay medications. Also, if you are supposed to test, always test daily, as your physician recommends or anytime you are feeling a bit low.
Getting all the diabetes information available on what it is and how to control it with a diabetes diet and exercise is important in ensuring you lead a happy, healthy life. People with diabetes can lead very good, long lasting lives with some simply changes in lifestyle and diet. After changes become habit, there will be no sense of deprivation. You will feel better, lose weight and be more active. Your risks of more severe complications will decrease significantly and your chances of living longer will increase.
