Diabetes can be a deadly disease and can lead to complications that can significantly impact your quality of life. If you make healthy lifestyle changes, you can combat diabetes and delay or prevent the onset of diabetes. You should set realistic short term goals that you on the road to healthy lifestyle habits. You can combat diabetes and planning how you are going to start is the first step.
Practice Good Nutrition
Eating lots of fruits and vegetables, having whole grains, nonfat dairy foods, and decreasing the amount of fat in your diet with help. Cutting back on high calorie deserts and snack food will help you keep your weight down and prevent pre-diabetes or the onset of diabetes. Even if you already eat healthy foods, make sure that you watch your portion sizes because too much can still make you gain weight and put you at risk. Don't include more than 25 percent of your total caloric intake of fat each day. You should talk to your doctor or a dietitian about healthy diet plans.
Exercise
Becoming active can help prevent diabetes, while it also aids in the prevention of heart disease. You should make it a goal to participate in thirty minutes of physical activity five days a week. You can take a brisk walk, take classes, go dancing or go to the gym. There are many different ways that you can meet your exercise goals. In addition, being active can also mean doing things throughout the day that increase the amount of physical activity you receive. Some examples include taking the stairs instead of the elevator, gardening and taking a walk across a parking lot instead of parking next to the entrance to the store or work.
Lose Weight
If you are overweight, you are at risk for diabetes. You can find out if you are overweight by calculating your Body Mass Index. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) says that if you lose ten to fifteen pounds, you lower your risk for diabetes and heart disease. Making healthy food choices, increasing your activity and tapping into the support you need to lose weight can help you take it off and keep it off.
