How To Manage Diabetes?

Keeping your blood sugar levels in check is essential to help your body function optimally. However, managing blood sugar is not as simple as it seems. You require a lot of awareness on how your lifestyle and daily routine lead to a rise or drop in your sugar levels.

There are various factors that lead to fluctuation in your day-to-day blood sugar. Some of these are listed below:

Physical activity: Exercise is crucial in managing your diabetes as it assists your body in utilizing insulin more effectively. Even you are not exercising on a regular basis, make sure you stay physically active. Approximately 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity is a must every day of the week. Stick to a schedule after discussing with your endocrinologist as to what type pf exercise plan will work the best for you.

Eat healthy food: There is no doubt that eating healthy is the key to managing your diabetes well. You need to work out with your specialist doctor regarding the diet and food combinations that will give you the best results. Eat a well-balanced meal with appropriate portion size as recommended by your doctor or dietitian. Avoid any sugary beverages as they cause a sudden spike in sugar levels.

Take the prescribed medication: Insulin and other diabetic management medicines are required when lifestyle changes alone do not help in fixing your blood sugar levels. Also, it is imperative to report to your doctor in case your diabetes medication is causing your blood sugar levels to drop very low or high. The dosage and timing of your medication needs to be adjusted to get you the best suitable treatment.

Abstain from consuming alcohol: Drinking alcohol is linked to an increase in diabetes complications such as damage to the eyes and nerves. Ask your doctor if you can drink alcohol or not. Also, if you are taking insulin or diabetic medication always remember never to have alcoholic beverages on an empty stomach to avoid low blood sugar levels.

Keep track of changing hormones: Menstruation and menopause can result in changes in blood sugar levels. Therefore, it is imperative to check your blood sugar more frequently every month. If you are someone who is nearing menopause, talk to your specialist doctor about how often you need to check your sugar levels as sometimes symptoms of menopause overlap with those of low blood sugar.

Manage stress: Long periods of stress can cause a rise in blood sugar levels and make your diabetes management plan go haywire. You need to learn stress-handling techniques and exercise regularly to lower stress and control your diabetes. Get in touch with a psychologist who can help you identify your stress triggers and assist you in learning coping skills to combat the same efficiently.