A diagnosis of diabetes is not a welcome thought, but diabetes is something you can live with. Diabetes is called a chronic disease, which means that it persists throughout one's life and there is no cure for it at the present time, although doctors and scientists are working to find one.
If you are diagnosed with diabetes, it is important to think differently about food and nutrition. In order to keep your blood sugar or blood glucose at a healthy level, you will need to strictly monitor your food and drink, and you will have to avoid certain items altogether. This may be a difficult situation to deal with after being able to eat whatever you wanted whenever you wanted, but you will soon find this new way of eating routine, and the health benefits will be worth it.
A diabetic diet is specially designed to control blood glucose levels. It may also be called medical nutrition therapy (MNT). If you're diabetic, a special diet will help you manage your blood sugar levels and your weight, keeping you healthy and controlling your diabetes symptoms. However, a diabetic diet is about more than just what foods you can and can't eat -- it's also about when you eat. To properly regulate blood sugar, diabetics should eat their meals at the same time every day.
If you eat foods that are high in calories and fat, your body reacts by causing a rise in blood sugar (glucose). When your blood sugar gets too high, it can cause all kinds of problems, such as nerve, kidney and heart damage. You must keep track of your eating habits and the foods you eat so your blood sugar levels can be easily managed and kept within a safe range. A dietitian can help you find meal plans that will work well for you.
There is still some controversy about carbohydrates and table sugar. Fruits with natural sugar should not be shut out of your diet completely. Table sugar can be avoided, especially in baking, by replacing it with a sugar substitute like Splenda or Sweet'N Low.
Exercise is as important for diabetics as it is for everyone else, if not more so. Take it slow and easy at first, and gradually build up both the intensity and the duration of exercise. Make sure never to exhaust yourself, though. If you become too tired, your blood sugar will drop extremely low and you might faint. Common symptoms of low blood sugar include sweating, feeling weak and lightheadedness. If you experience thse symptoms, slow down or stop exercising completely. Make sure you eat something light but nutritious before your workout, and drink lots of fluids.
Participating in regular physical activity is important and will help you to feel better and lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, which is also important in controlling diabetes.