Improve Your Diabetes Health with These 7 Must-Dos

Diabetes is a condition which many suffer from, across all age-groups. It is generally caused when the blood sugar is too high. The pancreas fails to produce insulin, as a result of which the glucose remains floating in the body, thereby causing diabetes. Read on to learn about a few measures a diabetic can take to improve their health.

Recommended Read: Strength Training to Help You Manage Diabetes

Avoid these foods

There is a strong link between diabetes and your diet. The following foods are best avoided:

White bread
White bread contains almost no nutrition and is a form of simple carbohydrate. This food will surely raise your sugar level to a great extent, as it does not contain any fiber.
Rice
White rice provides very little nutrition to the body and causes a spike in insulin levels.
Breakfast cereals
Most of the cereals are highly processed and contain more carbohydrates than any other breakfast foods.

Recommended Read: 5 Breakfast Ideas for Type 2 Diabetes

Take care of your feet

Check your feet every day
One should look at their feet every day to check for any kind of red spots, swelling or blisters.
Wash your feet every day
Wash your feet every day with hot or cold water.
Keep your skin smooth and soft
Rubbing a thin coat of skin lotion over the top and bottom of your feet will help you get smooth skin.

Watch your weight

Obesity is one of the most significant contributing factors for diabetes. Doctor’s will probably suggest losing weight and adopting healthy food habits to keep your diabetes in control. However, there is no need for drastic weight loss. Losing just a few pounds can be a good start in itself.

If you are suffering from Type 1 diabetes, your weight loss efforts should focus on the following:

Lowering Carbohydrate intake
Lowering Protein intake
Increasing level of physical activity

Track your sugar level
Probably the most important thing a diabetic needs to do. Constantly check your blood sugar level, to assess the effectiveness of your diabetes health strategies.

Miscellaneous do’s and don’ts for diabetics

Do’s
- Mentally prepare yourself for tackling this disease.
- Track your eating and living pattern.
- Lower your stress levels, as stress is one of the contributing factors for diabetes.
Don’ts
- Do not skip your meals.
- Do not smoke or drink alcohol.
- Do not follow a sedentary lifestyle.