If you have type 2 diabetes, you may wonder if there are any changes you can make in your everyday life which can help you to live a healthy lifestyle, as much as possible. Are there any steps that you can take which can help your body thrive?
It turns out that there are a few things you can do to live a life of wellness even with type 2 diabetes, but they’re not magic or quick fixes. You may see miracle diets advertised, or ads which claim that there’s a crazy trick or a secret thing you can do (that somehow either your doctor doesn’t know, or for some reason won’t tell you) which can cure your diabetes. These miracle diets, quick fixes and magic, secret tricks are untrue. Drinking apple cider vinegar or eating spoonfuls of ground cinnamon or turmeric will not cure diabetes, nor will they replace any medicine which your doctor might prescribe. Your doctor is a partner in your healthcare and is not keeping secrets from you.
They want you to feel better and live healthfully and would not deliberately keep things from you. There are many resources and information available online, and you must be careful when doing online research. If you are in doubt, ask your doctor for their opinion and input. They will be able to tell you what health tips you see online are untrue and may also tell you that consuming things like that might give you heartburn or an upset stomach.
So what can you do each day? It’s not a quick fix and it’s not glamorous, but there are some old fashioned, tried and true methods which can help you. First, do your best to make healthy eating choices. Have a treat now and then so that you don’t feel deprived, and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Don’t force yourself to eat foods that you don’t like, because not everyone likes vegetables such as Brussels sprouts. If you don’t like them, there is no need to choke them down. Simply try new kinds of vegetables until you find some that you like.
Try to increase the amount of whole grains and fiber in your meals. Use the food you eat as fuel for your body, and think about what you eat, instead of mindlessly eating, or wolfing down junk food out of sheer hunger. Pay attention to what you put into your mouth, and into your body. Eating healthfully can keep you from gaining weight, and may help you to shed extra weight as well. If you need to, ask your doctor or a registered dietician for more guidance which can be tailored to your nutritional needs.
Another way to help your body is through regular exercise. Again, it’s not a quick fix or a magic trick, but it works. You don’t have to join an expensive gym, or participate in activities you don’t like. Find something you enjoy, and do that thing 3-5 times a week for at least 20 minutes. Before you begin a new exercise routine, make sure to speak with your doctor.