By Dee Martinez
Diabetes... "Is that treatable?" "Is that contagious?" "Is that terminal?" So many questions about diabetes. For those just diagnosed with this, I guess it should be something that can be very scary. But once you get all the facts and face the disease head on, you will be living a normal diabetic life.
So what is diabetes? This is cause in which a person has high blood sugar. There are two reasons why very high sugar, it is because the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced by the body. The classic symptoms are the three P's: polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger).
Diabetes is a lifelong disease - once you have it, you have it as long as you live. In short, this is incurable - but manageable. You can still live a normal life as long as you manage your blood sugar level.
So What should you do to have normal diabetic life? Here are some pointers that can help each diabetic person live a normal life.
1. Take your medication. This is the very first thing that is needed. Do not, under any circumstance, fail to take your maintenance medicine.
2. Consult with a Dietitian so that you can plan your meals. This is important because you should be sticking to a diet, according to the number of calories required depending on your weight, height and age. You will also know what to eat and what not to eat. There are several food that we thought is okay, but it is not - so you need proper information.
3. Talking to a Dietitian is not enough - implementation is the most important. It is wise to plan you food ahead - if you cannot plan for a week meal - a 2 day meal is good enough. This will help you have your meals at a regular time and help you avoid eating anything in sight if hungry.
4. If you are overweight, lose some weight. Visit your neighborhood gym and see any activities that you feel like joining - like Karate, Aerobics, Tennis, etc. If you like an activity, it will surely motivate you from signing up and attending. And a reminder, select a gym close to your place of work or home, it is easier to go to and you will not have any excuse of not going. Exercise is of great importance to diabetics.
5. Live an active lifestyle. Avoid stationary hobbies like cross stitching, watching TV, computer games, etc. You should always up and about, walk around your yard, climb stairs instead of riding an elevator, walk to the store, walk your dog and many others.
6. Diabetic Life still includes vacations and even long trips. But just for extra precaution, consult your doctor first. He will advise you how and when to eat when crossing time zones. Just in case, always carry a light snack with you - a pack of biscuit or a banana.
7. You are still allowed to eat out. Just bear in mind - it is okay to taste everything, but just a portion. You can even have a dessert - just do not eat the whole thing, share with somebody. American Diabetes Association recommends one alcoholic drink per day. So you can also enjoy a glass of wine.
8. You should wear a medic alert bracelet. This is important in case of emergency.
And of course, live you life as normal as possible. You just have diabetes - it is not you.
Diabetes... "Is that treatable?" "Is that contagious?" "Is that terminal?" So many questions about diabetes. For those just diagnosed with this, I guess it should be something that can be very scary. But once you get all the facts and face the disease head on, you will be living a normal diabetic life.
So what is diabetes? This is cause in which a person has high blood sugar. There are two reasons why very high sugar, it is because the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced by the body. The classic symptoms are the three P's: polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger).
Diabetes is a lifelong disease - once you have it, you have it as long as you live. In short, this is incurable - but manageable. You can still live a normal life as long as you manage your blood sugar level.
So What should you do to have normal diabetic life? Here are some pointers that can help each diabetic person live a normal life.
1. Take your medication. This is the very first thing that is needed. Do not, under any circumstance, fail to take your maintenance medicine.
2. Consult with a Dietitian so that you can plan your meals. This is important because you should be sticking to a diet, according to the number of calories required depending on your weight, height and age. You will also know what to eat and what not to eat. There are several food that we thought is okay, but it is not - so you need proper information.
3. Talking to a Dietitian is not enough - implementation is the most important. It is wise to plan you food ahead - if you cannot plan for a week meal - a 2 day meal is good enough. This will help you have your meals at a regular time and help you avoid eating anything in sight if hungry.
4. If you are overweight, lose some weight. Visit your neighborhood gym and see any activities that you feel like joining - like Karate, Aerobics, Tennis, etc. If you like an activity, it will surely motivate you from signing up and attending. And a reminder, select a gym close to your place of work or home, it is easier to go to and you will not have any excuse of not going. Exercise is of great importance to diabetics.
5. Live an active lifestyle. Avoid stationary hobbies like cross stitching, watching TV, computer games, etc. You should always up and about, walk around your yard, climb stairs instead of riding an elevator, walk to the store, walk your dog and many others.
6. Diabetic Life still includes vacations and even long trips. But just for extra precaution, consult your doctor first. He will advise you how and when to eat when crossing time zones. Just in case, always carry a light snack with you - a pack of biscuit or a banana.
7. You are still allowed to eat out. Just bear in mind - it is okay to taste everything, but just a portion. You can even have a dessert - just do not eat the whole thing, share with somebody. American Diabetes Association recommends one alcoholic drink per day. So you can also enjoy a glass of wine.
8. You should wear a medic alert bracelet. This is important in case of emergency.
And of course, live you life as normal as possible. You just have diabetes - it is not you.
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