Diabetes is a disease that affects your whole body, from your eyes to your blood vessels, to your toes. But many people with diabetes live wonderful, healthy lives and are not held back by complications like nerve damage or heart problems.
They put extra effort into each day than the average person and come out with more satisfaction knowing they are conquering more than the average person.
You probably know that managing diabetes can be complicated, but there are a few changes you can make with major impact.
Controlling your blood sugar is the biggest improvement you can make but a lot goes into controlling your blood sugar:
controlling carbohydrate intake;
possibly taking medication or insulin;
exercising;
checking your blood sugar regularly;
reducing stress;
and the list goes on.
The following simple changes will help lead to better blood sugar control along with your other treatments, but making all these changes together will give you the biggest impact on preventing complications.
For some people, the idea of skipping your morning pick-me-up Dr. Pepper or missing out on your SoBe fruit punch with lunch is a devastating idea. But you can do this!
Slowly cutting back and replacing your sugary drinks with better alternatives can be such a smooth transition, you won’t even notice!
Follow this step by step guide to slash out that liquid candy that you know is hurting your body and you’ll start to notice several benefits: much better blood sugar control; losing weight from cutting out those liquid calories; improved energy; better teeth and gum health; and a feeling of accomplishment for doing something healthy for your body.
For many years now, losing weight has been one of the top 10 New Year’s Resolutions among other goals such as get a better education, drink less alcohol, get out of debt and stop smoking.
For people living with diabetes, getting to a healthy weight is a great New Year’s resolution as long as you go about it in a healthy manner. It is also important to know a few important details about losing weight with diabetes.
Here you’ll find some helpful hints to make sure you keep your blood sugar level within a healthy range while you get to the best weight for your body.
I wonder how many people make this same resolution each year because they gain back the weight they lost at the beginning of the year? Don’t fall into line with that crowd.
It is not healthy for your body weight to fluctuate and it is not good for your mental health either. Here are some tips to help you be successful in accomplishing this goal but then to also maintain your accomplishment.
I definitely understand the winter hibernation effect. Some days after work, all I want to do is curl up by the fireplace to read a book. And sometimes I do just that.
But the rest of the week I don’t miss out on all the fun winter activities that get me moving, give me energy, lighten my mood, and burn some extra calories.
It might be difficult to check your blood sugar with a cold finger or if your meter and strips get out of the recommended temp range. But it is really important to check your blood sugar before you venture outside and after your activity/exercise to find out how the cold affects you.
Also, be careful to wear warm, padded socks and clothes if you have circulation problems or neuropathy. We don’t want your toes to feel frozen!
Check out these winter from the Mayo Clinic before you head outdoors.
Now, don’t let the title confuse you! There are two key principles here that you need to understand before you run out the door to a steakhouse.
Let’s just clarify the difference between refined carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. The classification depends on the chemical structure of the food, and how quickly the sugar is digested and absorbed.
With Thanksgiving right around the corner and the string of holiday parties and events soon to follow, I want to give a word of encouragement for those of you that are starting to worry about your waistline.
You can be successful in weight loss or weight management during these exciting yet food-filled weeks to come!
If you just started thinking about losing weight.
If you have lost weight recently and don’t want to gain it back.
If you are dreading the pounds you think you’ll gain.
Even if you don’t care about your weight right now. Don’t let a few parties side-track you. In the grand scheme of your life, the holidays of 2010 are quite small in comparison.
Get your exercise in, control your blood sugar, and do a good deed!
The fall months are chock-full of great events that are centered on walking or running. What a great way to get out with hundreds or thousands of people to improve your own health while supporting the health of others!
Lace up your running shoes and find a walk for a cause or run for fundraising in your area. You’ll get a great workout for the day, you’ll most likely have great control of your blood sugars that day, a long walk with help you manage your weight and your heart will be happy knowing that you are doing something purposeful and meaningful.
Remember to check your blood sugar before and after the event.
If it is a long event, you might want to bring your meter along to check in the middle of your walk or run. Many large events have sponsors provide sports drinks, yogurt, fruit, or other giveaways at the finish line.
Check out this list of groups that host events or do your own search for an event that supports a cause important to you!
Halloween just passed by and Thanksgiving, holiday parties, Hanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Years are hot on its heels. Don’t get lured into the feast and famine mentality that can come with the food heavy parties and famines in between to “make up for it.” This up and down cycle is not good for your blood sugars, your weight, your metabolism or your mental health.
Start out this holiday season with the right mentality and game plan to maneuver through the parties, the holiday stress, and the ever-present temptations without high highs, dangerous lows, and an expanding waste line. You know it’s true.
The fad diets, the short starvation diets, the detox diets, the low carb diets, the liquid diets. None of them work long-term. None of them are healthy. And most of them make you feel terrible.
Set your mind to it now; plan a steady and healthy diet with enough flexibility that let’s you feel like it really is Christmas.
When you hear the word aerobic exercise do you think about leotards and high kicks?
Or when you think about “lifting weights,” do you picture strong men pulling cars?
For someone that is not very familiar with the more scientific aspects of aerobic and anaerobic exercise, you might have comical ideas of the classic 1980s aerobics class instructor (a la Jane Fonda work out videos) and the classic football player throwing around weights and grunting.
That’s ok! If you’ve never heard what the differences are and what those words actually mean, you can learn right now!
Here are some basics that will help you understand the differences so you’ll be able to choose the right exercises for you.
Need some help starting a workout program? Need instruction on how to exercises safely? Want to find an exercise class to join? Need a little kick of motivation to be more active? Want a personalized exercise program?
Here is a new tool that can help you with all of those things and more.
IDEA Health & Fitness Association is an organization for fitness and wellness professionals. The group is committed to improving health and fitness by preparing and equipping the professionals that help people like you and me exercise. This is good, because if they are helping me, I want them to know what they are doing!
They have compiled tons of information from across the U.S. into an exercise locator database. Basically, you type in where you live and it pops out exercise classes, gyms, personal trainers, and more.
It is FREE and you can customize your searches to find just what you’re looking for.It provides detailed information so you can choose the trainer or class that fits your needs just perfectly.
Take a look at the database called Fitness Connect and be inspired to pursue a healthier, more active you.
Diabetes is a disease that affects your whole body, from your eyes to your blood vessels, to your toes. But many people with diabetes live wonderful, healthy lives and are not held back by complications like nerve damage or heart problems.
