When you're diagnosed with diabetes, the doctor will immediately recommend planning to control blood sugar and reduce the risk of getting complications. Planning for blood sugar control usually consists of changes in lifestyle and regular consumption of drugs.
Maintaining normal blood sugar levels is indeed not an easy thing to do. The reason is, there are many things that can cause instability of blood sugar levels.
Even though it's difficult, you still have to do it. Come on, see six things to do to maintain normal blood sugar levels!
1. Test, record blood sugar
Testing blood sugar should be done routinely. Doing this won't only provide information about daily blood sugar levels but also help you understand your own condition. Usually, the doctor recommends testing blood sugar several times a day, depending on the type and amount of insulin you use. Testing blood sugar levels is recommended before eating and going to bed, especially if you need more than one injection of insulin a day.
2. Have healthy diet, reduce carbohydrate
There're many factors that affect blood sugar levels, including how much and what type of food you consume. Your activity and the dosage of anti-diabetic medication can also reduce it. Consuming the right amount of food is very important in controlling blood sugar levels. In fact, no food is truly prohibited. However, the key is, don't overdo it. Eat according to what your body needs. Increase consumption of vegetables, fruit and whole grains. If you want to eat meat, choose non-fat ones. If you want to consume milk-based food and drinks, choose non-fat ones. Limit consumption of foods that have high sugar and fat content. Remember, carbohydrate is digested into sugar in your body, so limit it.
3. Exercise
If you previously lack activity, change it. You don't need to always go to the gym. Regular walking or bicycling is enough. At least, do activities that emit sweat for 30 minutes several times a week. An active lifestyle will help control your condition because it lowers blood sugar levels. Other than that, regular exercise also reduces stress and the risk of getting heart disease, and loses weight.
4. Visit doctor
Monitor your condition with a doctor at least twice a year. Diabetes increases the risk of getting heart disease, so you must know your cholesterol levels, blood pressure and A1C. Other than that, it's also recommended to do an eye examination once a year and see your foot problems.
5. Avoid stress
When you're stressed, your blood sugar levels also increase. If always hit by worries, most likely, you can't control your condition to the fullest. Stress and worries can make you forget to exercise, consume the planned diet or take medicine. Look for ways to reduce stress. As a recommendation, you can try yoga or do a hobby that relaxes yourself.
6. Limit alcohol consumption
You'll be easier to control blood sugar levels if you limit the consumption of beer, wine and other alcoholic drinks. Even if you want to drink alcohol, don't exaggerate it. Diabetic women may not drink more than one glass of wine a day. For men, it's no more than two glasses of wine a day. Test your blood sugar level before drinking alcohol. If you're taking insulin injection or diabetes medication, eat something while drinking alcohol. You also need to be aware because some types of alcohol have high carbohydrate content.
Controlling blood sugar levels must be done at any time. Therefore, it's not easy. However, your efforts will bear fruit. With controlled blood sugar levels, you'll feel healthy, get a lot of energy and move smoothly. Therefore, you also improve your quality of life and reduce the risk of complications.
Maintaining normal blood sugar levels is indeed not an easy thing to do. The reason is, there are many things that can cause instability of blood sugar levels.
Even though it's difficult, you still have to do it. Come on, see six things to do to maintain normal blood sugar levels!
1. Test, record blood sugar
Testing blood sugar should be done routinely. Doing this won't only provide information about daily blood sugar levels but also help you understand your own condition. Usually, the doctor recommends testing blood sugar several times a day, depending on the type and amount of insulin you use. Testing blood sugar levels is recommended before eating and going to bed, especially if you need more than one injection of insulin a day.
2. Have healthy diet, reduce carbohydrate
There're many factors that affect blood sugar levels, including how much and what type of food you consume. Your activity and the dosage of anti-diabetic medication can also reduce it. Consuming the right amount of food is very important in controlling blood sugar levels. In fact, no food is truly prohibited. However, the key is, don't overdo it. Eat according to what your body needs. Increase consumption of vegetables, fruit and whole grains. If you want to eat meat, choose non-fat ones. If you want to consume milk-based food and drinks, choose non-fat ones. Limit consumption of foods that have high sugar and fat content. Remember, carbohydrate is digested into sugar in your body, so limit it.
3. Exercise
If you previously lack activity, change it. You don't need to always go to the gym. Regular walking or bicycling is enough. At least, do activities that emit sweat for 30 minutes several times a week. An active lifestyle will help control your condition because it lowers blood sugar levels. Other than that, regular exercise also reduces stress and the risk of getting heart disease, and loses weight.
4. Visit doctor
Monitor your condition with a doctor at least twice a year. Diabetes increases the risk of getting heart disease, so you must know your cholesterol levels, blood pressure and A1C. Other than that, it's also recommended to do an eye examination once a year and see your foot problems.
5. Avoid stress
When you're stressed, your blood sugar levels also increase. If always hit by worries, most likely, you can't control your condition to the fullest. Stress and worries can make you forget to exercise, consume the planned diet or take medicine. Look for ways to reduce stress. As a recommendation, you can try yoga or do a hobby that relaxes yourself.
6. Limit alcohol consumption
You'll be easier to control blood sugar levels if you limit the consumption of beer, wine and other alcoholic drinks. Even if you want to drink alcohol, don't exaggerate it. Diabetic women may not drink more than one glass of wine a day. For men, it's no more than two glasses of wine a day. Test your blood sugar level before drinking alcohol. If you're taking insulin injection or diabetes medication, eat something while drinking alcohol. You also need to be aware because some types of alcohol have high carbohydrate content.
Controlling blood sugar levels must be done at any time. Therefore, it's not easy. However, your efforts will bear fruit. With controlled blood sugar levels, you'll feel healthy, get a lot of energy and move smoothly. Therefore, you also improve your quality of life and reduce the risk of complications.
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