Diabetes Management Part 2

In either case becoming familiar with the Glycemic Index, which shows which foods cause blood sugar levels to rise faster than others, is an important part of proper dietary management of diabetes. Foods with a high Glycemic Index will make blood sugar rise very rapidly, and should be avoided. Sugars and refined carbohydrates (’white’ pasta, white bread, etc.) are among the things at the top of the list, while whole grains (complex carbohydrates) are lower on the index, and proteins are near the bottom. Becoming familiar with the Glycemic index and finding which foods you like are safest for management of your blood sugar can make overall management of your diabetes much easier.

Regular exercise is an important part of long term management of diabetes. Since peripheral neuropathy often has serious effects onmuscle mass and control in the arms and legs, muscle-building exercises can be an important way of managing some of the physical effects of diabetes. Developing an effective weight training routine you can do easily in your own home may make this part of your diabetes management easier than committing to going to a gym regularly.

The onset of Type II diabetes is strongly correlated with overweight. In some cases, if Type II diabetes is diagnosed early enough and it is a mild enough case, proper diet combined with regular exercise may lead to the disappearance of diabetic symptoms. While there is a very strong chance the diabetes will return later in life, adding a few more years of good health will certainly help minimize side effects later in life, and will be good ‘training’ for proper diabetes management when it becomes necessary again. While exercise can never ‘cure’ Type I diabetes, the different metabolic characteristics of fat versus muscle cells still make exercise in important part of managing even Type I diabetes.

Diabetes management can be a complex process, but understanding the basics of your medication, healthy dietary choices and appropriate and regular exercise will provide a strong foundation for successful management of your diabetes throughout your life.