Diabetes is one disease which can be severely aggravated by the wrong kind of diet and lifestyle. Hence Diet and lifestyle planning are the cornerstone of managing diabetes.
Diet Planning
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Eliminate all objects that contain sugar from diet, like wheat, rice, potato, sugar, sugar cane and its juice, jaggery, sweet fruits, etc.
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Include at least one bitter dish in every meal
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Should take Home-made cottage cheese and various forms of soured milk such as curd and butter milk. Reduce fats, especially butter and ghee from diet.
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Take plenty of green vegetables.
- Vegetables such as Bitter Gourd, string beans, cucumber, onion and garlic,
- Seeds of bitter gourd & Fenugreek
- Fruits such as Indian Gooseberry, jambul Fruit and Grapes
- Grains like Bengal gram and black gram should be included in the diet.
- Raw vegetables & herbs play a part in stimulating the pancreas and enhancing insulin production.\
-Life style-
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Avoid sleeping during daytime
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Take extra care of your foot.
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Should take adequate eye care as the disease in serious condition might affect the eye.
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Should take care not to injure yourself as diabetic patients take time to heal. As a result, there is a possibility of the wound becoming septic .
5. Avoid smoking
- Smokers with diabetes have an increased risk of the following:
- Death, especially from heart attacks and strokes
- High LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels
- Worsened blood sugar controlled, compared to non-smokers
- Nerve damage from diabetes
- Kidney disease leading to dialysis
- Foot ulcer and amputation of toes, feet or legs caused by peripheral vascular disease
6. Do exercise regularly
General exercise precautions —
- It is important to balance enthusiasm and common sense when beginning an exercise program. These precautions encourage patients to stay safe and ensure that exercise is productive.
- Wear well-fitting, protective footwear.
- Drink adequate liquids before, during, and after exercise to prevent dehydration, which can upset blood sugar levels.
Diabetics who use insulin should also:
- Measure blood sugar before, during, and after exercise to determine their body’s typical response to exercise. If the pre-exercise blood sugar reading is 250 mg/dL (13.9 mmol/L) or higher, exercise should be postponed until the level is under control.
- Choose an insulin injection site away from exercising muscles (for example, avoid the legs if running)
- Keeping rapidly absorbed carbohydrates on hand (glucose tablets, hard candies, or juice).
- Eat a snack 15 to 30 minutes before exercise, and again every 30 minutes during exercise.
- Eat a source of slowly absorbed carbohydrates (dried fruit) immediately after exercise. This will counter a post-exercise drop in blood sugar levels.