Have you noticed when you pass 50+ our list of medications increases with every passing year? First, we start with medication for managing HP and heart conditions and then move on from there to medication for arthritis, bladder issues, digestion problems, etc. Well, let me add another medication to this long list. How about diabetes medication? According to the New York City Health Department, as of June 10th, diabetes is at an all-time high. It contributed to 5,695 deaths in the past year. Furthermore, diabetes claims at least one life every 90 minutes. Aren’t these appalling statistics? What should we do?
What is Diabetes
Very few people understand diabetes and its impactfully. Since I have been researching the topic quite a bit, let me share the findings with you. As you know, or don’t know, insulin controls blood sugar. Foods consumed, once digested, enter the bloodstream, and insulin works by taking blood sugar out of the bloodstream and breaking it down for energy production. Diabetes occurs due to inadequate insulin production or a poor response to insulin. The body’s inability to store sugar, in the cells, results in an increase of blood sugar. High blood sugar levels starve the body’s organs of much-needed nutrients, which can lead to other serious complications. Diabetes is divided into two types. Type 2 is the most common and occurs when the body does not respond to insulin in the proper manner or due to insufficient insulin production. The complications resulting from high blood sugar levels can reduce your quality of life. Although medication is necessary, you may be able to prevent the onset of diabetes with good lifestyle choices and a proper diet.
Lifestyle Choices to Prevent Diabetes
Exercise is the biggest driver for decreasing your blood sugar levels. As you know exercising requires the body’s sugar levels to convert to energy. This uses up the additional sugar levels in the body. The result – is low sugar levels. Exercise also reduces the risk of heart disease, which can occur with high blood sugar levels. Exercise also helps you lose the extra pounds, and this is a good thing because with weight loss you reduce your risk of obesity, which is a key factor for diabetes. I’m no doctor, but I think frequent and regular exercise is recommended as it boosts your immune system and reduces blood sugar levels. Alcohol is another factor that contributes to diabetes. Cutting down your alcohol intake will surely be another method of reducing blood sugar levels and preventing the onset of diabetes.
Diet for Preventing Diabetes
Food is also an important factor in controlling blood sugar. Having diabetes or preventing diabetes does not mean you have to suffer from tasteless foods. You can still enjoy your favorite foods as long as you know where to draw the line.
- Eat foods high in fiber.
- Eat foods low in fat.
- Avoid sugar-sweetened beverages, such as soda and energy drinks.
- Avoid concentrated sweets.
- Do not skip meals.
- Eat three varied and different meals.
- Cut back on certain fruits such as bananas as they contain sugar.
- Avoid sugar-free products as these DO contain other preservatives.
Diabetes is an illness you really can do without. It has so many complications that it is mind-boggling. If you want to live a long, healthy life, free of diabetes, consider these above factors and take preventive measures and be ahead of the battle. I for one take this terminal illness very seriously and hope you do so too.
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