Treatment and Research - Diet and Exercise
Follow a Meal Plan
Healthy eating is very important to lowering blood glucose levels, and people with
Diabetes should have their own meal plan. Ask your doctor to give you the name of a dietitian or a diabetes educator who can work with you to develop a meal plan.
In designing a meal plan, the dietitian considers the patient's weight and daily physical activity. For overweight patients, a weight loss plan is a must for proper blood glucose control. Your dietitian can help you plan meals to include foods that you and your family like to eat and that are good for you. Ask your dietitian to include foods that are heart healthy to reduce your risk of heart disease.
People with diabetes don't need to eat special foods. You can eat foods that are low in fat, salt, and sugar and high in fiber, such as beans, fruits, vegetables, and grains. Eating right will help you reach and stay at a weight that's good for your body, keep your blood glucose in a desirable range, and prevent heart and blood vessel disease.
Get Regular Physical Activity
Regular physical activity is important for people with diabetes. Taking part in a regular fitness program has been shown to improve blood glucose levels in older people whose levels are high.
Exercise is especially good for people with diabetes because
- exercise helps keep weight down
- exercise helps Insulin work better to lower blood glucose
- exercise is good for your heart and lungs
- exercise gives you more energy.
Before you begin exercising, talk with your doctor. Your doctor may check your heart and your feet to be sure you have no special problems. If you have high blood pressure or eye problems, some exercises like weightlifting may not be safe. Your health care team can help you find safe exercises.
Walking, swimming, dancing, riding a bicycle, playing baseball, and bowling are all good ways to exercise. You can even get exercise when you clean house or work in your garden.
Try to exercise almost every day for a total of about 30 minutes. If you haven't exercised lately, begin slowly. Start with 5 to 10 minutes, and then add more time. Or exercise for 10 minutes, three times a day.
Treatment and Research - Medications
Take Your Diabetes Medicine Every Day
Insulin and diabetes pills are the two kinds of medicines used to lower blood glucose.
You need insulin if your body has stopped making insulin or if your body doesn't make enough. Everyone with type 1 diabetes needs insulin, and many people with type 2 diabetes do, too.
Insulin can't be taken as a pill. You will give yourself shots every day or use an insulin pump. Insulin pumps are small machines that connect to narrow tubing, ending with a needle just under the skin near the abdomen. Insulin is delivered through the needle.
If your body makes insulin, but the insulin doesn't lower your blood glucose, you may need diabetes pills. Some pills are taken once a day, and others are taken more often. Ask your health care team when you should take your pills.
Be sure to tell your doctor if your pills make you feel sick or if you have any other problems. Remember, diabetes pills don't lower blood glucose all by themselves. You will still want to follow a meal plan and exercise to help lower your blood glucose.
Sometimes, people who take diabetes pills may need insulin shots for a while. If you get sick or have surgery, the diabetes pills may no longer work to lower your blood glucose.
Many people with type 2 diabetes do not need insulin or diabetes pills. They can take care of their diabetes by using a meal plan and exercising regularly.
