Diabetes cases are increasing day by day, which is also the case in East Hollywood, California. The condition arises when the body can’t make or use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps control the amount of sugar in your blood. When you don’t have enough, or any, insulin, it’s called diabetes mellitus type 1 (also known as Type I diabetes). Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for about 90% of all cases. The good news is that lifestyle changes can help manage such chronic pain. East Hollywood primary care centers can help in making the necessary adjustments. Here are some of them.
Proper Dieting
One of the most important things you can do to manage your diabetes is to eat a healthy diet. This means eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. You should also limit your intake of processed foods, sugary drinks, and saturated fat.
Physical Exercises
Exercise is another vital part of managing diabetes. It can help control your blood sugar levels and improve your insulin sensitivity. It also helps to reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other diabetes-related complications. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise on most days of the week. This can include walking, biking, swimming, or other activities that increase your heart rate.
Enough Bedtime
Another key to living a healthy life with diabetes is getting enough sleep. Most adults need around 8 hours of sleep per night. It means you’re able to control your blood sugar level. When you don’t have enough sleep, it’s harder to do so and thus trickier for doctors to manage your diabetes the way they may have planned during the day.
Monitoring Blood Sugar Levels
It’s essential to monitor your blood sugar levels, primarily type 1 diabetes. This involves checking your blood sugar level at regular intervals throughout the day. With a finger-prick test or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), you can do this.
If your blood sugar levels are consistently high, it can lead to serious health complications, such as heart disease, nerve damage, and kidney damage. Checking your blood sugar levels can help you to identify when your levels are too high or low so that you can take steps to correct them.
Avoid Stress
There are many ways that stress can affect your diabetes. For one, it can raise your blood sugar levels and make it harder to manage your diabetes. It can also lead to emotional problems, such as anxiety and depression, further complicating diabetes control. Finally, stress can worsen any existing health problems you may have.
It’s essential to find ways to manage your stress. This may include yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, or journaling. Talk to your doctor about strategies that may work best for you.
Quit Smoking
If you smoke, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your health. Smoking increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other diabetes-related complications. It also makes it harder to control your blood sugar levels.
The most important thing to remember when living with diabetes is that your lifestyle changes can help. Dieting, exercising, and managing stress levels will be instrumental in helping you manage the pain associated with this chronic condition. Remember to speak with a primary care specialist as well.
