Here are a few healthy habits for managing type 2 diabetes:
It’s important to stay active
To help manage your type 2 diabetes, it’s important to maintain an active lifestyle. Regular exercise can help prevent health problems, help keep your weight down, and help insulin work better to lower your blood sugar levels. Exercise doesn’t have to mean going to the gym and lifting weights. Anything that gets you moving counts. Even little things like walking in place while watching TV can make a difference.
The ADA recommends being active for at least 30 minutes 5 days a week, or a total of 150 minutes a week. Your diabetes care team will help you develop an activity plan that is right for you.
Have fun!
Staying active shouldn’t be a chore. Find activities you enjoy so you’ll have fun while improving your health. If you’re not used to being physically active, start slow and easy. Try walking the dog or spending some time in the garden. Once you feel more comfortable, you can try different activities, like joining an exercise group or class. And always speak with your healthcare provider before starting any kind of fitness routine.
Food for thought about healthy eating
For everyone, healthy eating should be an important part of life. But for people with diabetes, it plays a big part in managing blood sugar. Your diabetes care team can work with you to create a delicious meal plan designed to help you achieve your goals. But keep in mind that it’s important to eat a variety of healthy foods, including vegetables, whole grains, fruits, beans, lean meats, poultry, and fish.
To help reduce blood sugar, reduce stress
Dealing with your diabetes can be stressful. And, unfortunately, stress can affect your blood sugar and insulin levels. Learning how to manage your stress may help you keep your blood sugar under control. It’s important to look out for signs of unusual stress so that you can begin to find ways to cope with it.
Here are some suggestions for dealing with stress:
When your diabetes changes, your treatment may change too
If you’ve been following your treatment plan as prescribed and are still not at your A1C goal within 3 months, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that your healthcare provider consider changing your diabetes treatment plan.
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