|
The first thing any health care professional is going to say
after they tell a patient she has diabetes is that she should start
right away on changing her diet and adding exercise or more exercise
to her routine. The first step in all diabetes treatment plans is a
call for change in lifestyle. It is possible to treat diabetes and
keep blood sugar levels from fluctuating too erratically without
drugs by making these changes.
First, unlike the past, there is no set “diabetes diet.” That’s
the good news. A diabetes diet today consists of healthy choices
eaten on a regular schedule, so instead of calling these
improvements diets, they are instituted as meal plans and food
choices. Foods with high sugar content do not need to be eradicated
from the diet, just eaten in moderation and in combination with
healthy foods.
Eating on a regular schedule is important for a diabetic’s diet.
Having a meal plan that includes three meals a day and 2 or 3 snacks
throughout the day helps to keep blood sugar levels in a normal
range. Sudden highs or big drops are to be avoided. Most doctors
will suggest working with a registered dietician or nutritionist to
get the patient started.
The second aspect of a diabetes treatment plan is exercise. If
the patient leads a sedentary lifestyle, she is advised to start
slowly, but to get started right away. Find some type of exercise
that she enjoys; walking is a great way to start, riding a bike, or
swimming. Anything to get her moving for at least thirty minutes a
day.
The goal of these two steps is to reduce body weight. Losing
weight helps the body’s ability to produce and use insulin that, in
turn, keeps the blood sugar level even. With a consistent diet and
exercise program, oral medications can be avoided. However, if blood
sugar levels remain high or fluctuate too wildly, the next step in
diabetes treatment is oral medication. If oral meds fail to keep
levels in check, insulin treatments may become necessary.
It is the goal of doctors and health care professionals to keep
their patients off medication. This is why diabetes treatment relies
heavily on changes in diet and exercise.
|