Being diagnosed with diabetes does not mean that you have to change your life entirely; you simply change some of your lifestyle and behavioral choices in order to live a healthier life. You can still enjoy walks to the park, dinner and a movie, and other normal aspects of life. Creating a 4-step action plan could help you maintain a better diet, stay active, manage stress, and take supplements properly so that you could continue to enjoy a high-quality life.

Eat well

Doctors recommend diabetic diet plans to help you manage your weight, and control your blood sugar levels. If you keep track of the calories you eat, it is easier for you to maintain normal blood glucose levels – or keep your blood sugar levels within a safe range.

Medical nutrition therapy is another name for a diabetic diet plan. Your doctor could help you develop meal plans that give you the nutrition you need. The key to a diabetic diet plan is following through. You will need to develop a schedule to eat your meals and snacks. When you stray from your eating schedule, you would find it difficult to eat in moderation. Make sure you count your calories, fats, and carbohydrates.

A healthy diet would mostly include:

• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Whole Grains
• Beans

Consume dairy products, fish, poultry and lean meats sparingly.

According to the Mayo Clinic, some diabetic plans are great for anyone, including those who do not suffer from diabetes.

Stay Active

If you are diabetic, staying active could be significantly beneficial to you. The purpose of getting physical activity is to lower your blood sugar levels. Being active could help diabetics feel great, physically and mentally. If you are moderately active, you could:

• Keep your joints flexible
• Lower your risks of heart disease or stroke
• Relieve Stress
• Have more energy

In addition to following a diabetic meal plan, you could exercise moderately. Exercise at least 30 minutes everyday. You do not need to exercise for 30 minutes in 1 session; instead, you could exercise in 10-minute intervals at least 3 times a day. Find something that works for you, such as:

• Aerobic activity
• Taking the stairs instead of an elevator
• Weight lifting
• Yoga or pilates

Being active can help you lose 5 to 10 percent of your body weight, which could control diabetes. Exercise could stop the progression of Type 2 diabetes.

Manage Stress

Stressful situations could adversly affect diabetics. You could skip your meals or forget your medication schedule, either of which could negatively affect your blood sugar levels.

To manage stress, you could:

• Find the positive in all situations, and surround yourself with as many positive family members and friends as possible. Positive thoughts and people help you cope with bad times and situations.

• Be easy on yourself. You will want to master everything, especially the diabetes itself. You need to understand you cannot control every situation, and do not expect to. The easier you are on yourself, the less stress you will encounter.

• Exercise not only helps you maintain a healthy weight, but it could alleviate stress by clearing your mind, and giving your something else to focus on.

• Talk with people about your disease. If you do not want to talk with family or friends about your form of diabetes, join groups or see a therapist to talk about your situation. Keeping your emotions bottled up can be stressful.

• Allocate time to rest. Stress could be caused by exhaustion. Regardless of how busy you are, allocate time for relaxation and rest to take care of yourself.

Take Supplements

Dietary supplements could help you get the nutrition that your meals might not provide. Supplements have the potential to lower your blood sugar levels and reduce your resistance to insulin. These dietary supplements – and herbs – could help you live a healthier lifestyle. According to the National Health Interview Survey, 31% of diabetics used a dietary supplement of some form, while another study stated that 22% of people living with diabetes used herbal therapy.

Some dietary supplements could be harmful. The labels do not always list each ingredient that is inside of the package. Before you take supplements, it is best to consult with your doctor. They can give you a list of dietary supplements to take and those you should avoid.

If you are taking prescribed medication, continue to do so unless your doctor advises you otherwise. Dietary supplements should never be taken as an alternative to prescribed medication.

Benefits

This 4-step action plan could help you maintain normal blood sugar levels. Developing an action plan for diabetes could also lead to a healthy and less stressful life. You would improve your health and boost your self-esteem too.

References

“Success Tips.” GlucoMiracle. Retrieved from http://www.glucomiracle.com/success-tips/. Accessed on September 3, 2013.

“Diabetes Meal Plans and a Healthy Diet.” American Diabetes Association. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/planning-meals/diabetes-meal-plans-and-a-healthy-diet.html. Accessed on September 3, 2013.

“Coping with Diabetes and Stress.” WebMD. Retrieved from http://diabetes.webmd.com/stress-management. Accessed on September 3, 2013.

“Diabetes Diet: Create Your Healthy-Eating Plan.” Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes-diet/DA00027. Accessed on September 3, 2013.

“Getting Active.” American Diabetes Association. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/recently-diagnosed/where-do-i-begin/getting-active.html. Accessed on September 3, 2013.

“Herbs, Supplements, and Alternative Medicines.” American Diabetes Association. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/medication/herbs-supplements-and-alternative-medicines/. Accessed on September 3, 2013.