Living with Diabetes Successfully

Managing diabetes is a combination of learning how to eat well, monitor your glucose level, and exercise daily. It is important to fully understand how the disease operates within your body so that you can be prepared for any possibility that may arise.

Many individuals have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It is a lifelong disease that once diagnosed with an individual will need to learn how to manage.

Typically adults who have diabetes have type 2 diabetes and children, teens and youth are usually diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

It is possible to live successfully with either type of diabetes if you learn all you can about managing the disease.

Managing diabetes is a combination of learning how to eat well, monitor your glucose level, and exercise daily.

It is important to fully understand how the disease operates within your body so that you can be prepared for any possibility that may arise. Knowing the disease means that you can better manage the disease.

Your doctor will give you information about diabetes and there are also many helpful Websites and books that you can find information about managing your diabetes.

Your doctor will help you to design a diabetic management plan that will include proper diet, exercise and insulin management.

A proper diet is necessary because it is the diet that determines how much blood glucose you bring into your body. A healthy diet can help you to control your weight. Your doctor can advise you on the types of food you should eat.

Regular exercise is an important tool in healthy diabetes management. Exercise helps your diabetes by controlling your weight and lowering your blood sugar level. Exercise can also help you to feel better and increase your overall health.

Type 1 Diabetes Diabetics should be limiting their intake of fats and sugars and eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats and fish. Encourage the individual to exercise by joining them in their exercise program. You can walk, jog, swim or dance together. Read up on diabetes at your local library and discover healthy eating and exercise habits. Diabetes Information

Your doctor can advise you on what kind of exercise program would be best for you. Exercise program selection will depend on your overall health. Aerobic exercising is a fun way to stay healthy and includes walking, jogging, aerobic dance and bicycling.

If you are experiencing any feet issues your doctor may ask you not to do any exercising that might put stress on your feet. Exercises that will NOT put stress on your feet include swimming, bicycling, rowing or chair exercises.

Always warm up and cool down when exercising. Stretch for about 5 to 10 minutes to help your muscles warm up before doing your regular exercise program.

When exercising go slowly and gradually increase the intensity of your exercise routine.

Exercise changes the way your body reacts to insulin. It makes your body more sensitive to insulin, and your blood sugar level may get too low during exercise (hypoglycemia).

You should check your blood sugar level after you are finished exercising. It is especially important to check your blood levels if you are exercising in extremely hot or cold conditions. Temperature changes how your body absorbs insulin.

If you feel shaky, anxious, suddenly sweaty, hungry or if you feel a change in your heartbeat it is important to stop your exercising and check your blood sugar level. It is important to keep candy or juice on hand in case you need to treat hypoglycemia.