Management (Life Style Modifications) ::
Dietary plan:
Diabetic people should take care about dietary habits to control sugar levels in the body. Carbohydrates get easily digested compared to fats and proteins and cause a rapid rise in blood glucose than whole cereals products. Eg: Cane sugar, sweets and syrups. Diet plan has to be planned based on height, weight, age, sex, physical activity and nature of diabetes. Complications such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels have to be considered before planning diet.
Diabetics should consider the following factors while adhering dietary planning:
- Fiber should be at least 1.4 oz / day.
- One should eat meals with 4-5 small mid intervals instead of 3 heavy meals.
- Should take simple whole cooked cereals instead of fast foods and should not eat food containing carbohydrates 2 hours prior to bedtime.
- Should eat fresh fruits and vegetables at least 5 exchange/day.
- One should avoid sweets and sugary drinks (canned beverages) that provide empty calories (no vitamins or essential minerals).
Physical exercise:
Daily exercising keeps a diabetic person healthy, as it controls blood glucose levels, reduces the risk of diabetic complications like heart disease and nerve damage. Regular exercise keeps diabetic people relaxed and makes them feel better to deal with stress. Physical activity plays a very important role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Aerobic exercise is preferable for diabetic patients as it helps insulin to work more efficiently, improves blood flow, lowers blood pressure and also lowers LDL cholesterol and raises HDL cholesterol.
Bicycling, dancing, jogging, running, skipping, swimming and walking can help you maintain physical activity. 2 hours past meals or snacks is the good time suggestible for exercising. However, one should not exercise when blood glucose level is above 250 mg/dl or 13.9 m mol/l), insulin levels are at peak, presence of ketone bodies in urine and stomach illness.