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In best-case scenarios, diabetes can be treated by changes as
simple as changing one’s eating habits and adding exercise to the
daily routine. One of the causes of type 2 diabetes is insulin
resistance, in which the body cannot use the insulin the pancreas
secretes. Factoring into this condition is genetics, excess weight
(especially weight around the waist) and a sedentary lifestyle.
Insulin allows the cells to use the sugar in the bloodstream for
growth and energy, if the sugar, or glucose, cannot get to the
cells, it builds up in the blood until it is passed as waste in the
urine. Proper diabetes nutrition cannot change genetics, but it can
help you lose weight and push the cells to the point where they use
the insulin.
Watching what you eat is the first step in diabetes treatment.
The second step is watching how much you eat. Adding at least 30
minute of exercise 5 days a week to your schedule is also part of
the program. When you are first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, your
doctor will send you to a nutritionist or dietician to help you with
meal planning suggestions. Diabetes nutrition is the most important
tool in treating your diabetes.
Start your new treatment plan by eating more starches, cereals
and grains. Make sure, too, to eat plenty of fresh fruits and
vegetables, at least 5 servings a day. You should also be eating on
a regular schedule, meals and snacks, and you should follow this
schedule every day. Your caloric content or carbohydrate count
should be spread out evenly over that schedule.
Don’t despair that this sounds like a lot of work; it does take
some planning and it requires paying attention to what is in the
food you are eating. But you learn quickly how much you can eat and
what is good for you. You do not have to cut out sweets and alcohol
completely and you do not have to buy special foods. And best of
all, if a diabetes nutrition treatment plan works for you, it is
much better than a lifetime of medications or learning to inject
yourself with insulin.
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