Article Content

If you have diabetes, it doesn't have to control your life, With the right treatment, a healthy diet and regular exercise you can carry on as normal, doing all the things you enjoy.

Tips For Healthy Eating

What you eat directly affects your blood glucose levels but that doesn't mean you have to go on a special diet or buy food and drink labelled 'diabetic'. Simply choose healthy foods that are low in fat, sugar and salt, and eat plenty of fruit, vegatables and starchy foods.

Eat regular meals and always include some kind of starchy food, such as:

Breakfast cereals
Bread, crumpets, English muffins or pitta bread
Pasta or noodles
Rice
Chapatis
Potatoes, cassava, sweet potato or plantain
Crackers, crispbreads or cracker bread

Try to keep yur calorie intake constant as fluctuations can affect your blood glucose levels.

You don't have to give up alcohol but stick to the recommended guidelines of 2 units a day for women and 3 units a day for men, ( 1 unit = 1 glass of wine or 1/2 pint of beer or 1 measure (25mls) of spirits)

If you're overweight, even losing a few pounds can help you manage your diabetes more effectively.

Regular Exercise

Keeping active will help to regulate your blood glucose levels and make insulin work more effectively. It can also help you to lose weight, improve circulation and keep your blood cholesterol and blood pressure within healthy limits, reducing the risk of heart

disease.

Exercise until you are a bit out of breadth it does not mean you go flat out and tire yourself. If you are new to exercising start of gently and than gradually work your way up to 30 minutes per day.

Tips For keeping Active

People enjoy doing different things to keep active, such as playing football, gardening, swimming, walking, playing tennis, dancing, yoga, martial arts...etc etc, do the things you enjoy.

Instead of driving to work you could cycle or walk, assuming the distance is not too great
Walk up the stairs avoiding the lift or escalator
Do housework
Clean the car and not take it to the car wash

The list of alternative activities are endless but check with your doctor or diabetes nurse before starting something new.

Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes - What's The Difference

Type 1 Diabetes - your body can't make any insulin so you have to control your blood glucose levels by taking insulin injections.

Type 2 Diabetes - your body can't make enough insulin or the insulin it makes doesn't work properly.

About the Author: Jane Mansell gives you useful tips on how to live with diabetes. Want to learn more, visit http://www.diabetesevents.info

Informative Articles