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Type 2 diabetes makes up at least 90% of all cases of diabetes
diagnosed in the world today. If your doctor diagnoses you with
pre-diabetes or diabetes, the first action that will be suggested to
you is to assess and change your eating habits. This is more than
advice to go on a diet; it is a mandate to save your own life.
The most important way to start treating your diabetes is to
start eating using the diabetic food pyramid or a low carbohydrate
diet, whichever your health care professional thinks will work best
for you. A low carb diet is more difficult for most people as it
requires some sacrifice. The American Diabetes Association has
adapted the USDA food pyramid for people with diabetes and adopting
a healthy eating plan with that at its core is an easier transition
for a lot of people. When you eat and how much you eat is as
important in this plan as what you eat. Keeping to a schedule is
just one part of treating diabetes with dietary changes.
Another aspect is exercise. It is very important, no matter how
you decide to tackle the eating issues, to add exercise to your
daily routine. Studies have shown that exercise is a great way to
reduce insulin resistance, one of the causes of diabetes. You can
start by adding a simple 30-minute walk to your daily routine 5 days
a week. Riding a bike or swimming are other options, you need to get
your heart rate up and start to strengthen your muscles. Exercise
also helps to burn off calories.
Treating diabetes isn’t necessarily easy, but it is something
that is under your control and that is good. Of course, if changing
your lifestyle and improving your eating habits doesn’t work, there
are oral medications your doctor can prescribe for you. These
medications won’t let you revert to the ways that got you to this
point in the first place, but they will keep your condition from
getting worse.
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