Diet, exercise can help keep diabetes at bay
Doctors also encourage people to east fish, nuts, whole grains and “healthy” fats such as those in virgin olive oil is a healthy habit that you can practice which can prevent you from developing diabetes or will reverse pre-diabetes. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- Having diabetes, which is a serious ailment which can cause other health issues like heart attacks, and kidney failure, means you will have to resign yourself to a lifetime of drugs and blood-sugar level monitoring.
- Daily exercise will not only help you lose weight, will also help reduce the risk of contracting diabetes by 80 per cent.
- Eating a diet high in fruit and vegetables, while slashing sugars and starches, reduces chances of getting diabetes. Doctors also encourage people to east fish, nuts, whole grains and “healthy” fats such as those in virgin olive oil.
World Diabetes Day, whose theme is “Healthy Living and Diabetes” was marked last Friday across the world.
Diabetes has been a leading concern for years. We all know one or two people who have succumbed to diabetes.
Some people are predisposed to getting the diseases because of their genes. However, things like diet, exercise and weight play an important role in keeping diabetes at bay.
AVOIDING DIABETES
Having diabetes, which is a serious ailment which can cause other health issues like heart attacks, and kidney failure, means you will have to resign yourself to a lifetime of drugs and blood-sugar level monitoring.
But there are a few healthy habits that you can practice which can prevent you from developing diabetes or will reverse pre-diabetes.
Lose weight: People who are overweight have a higher chance of contracting diabetes than normal people.
Balanced diet: Eating a diet high in fruit and vegetables, while slashing sugars and starches, reduces chances of getting diabetes. Doctors also encourage people to east fish, nuts, whole grains and “healthy” fats such as those in virgin olive oil.
Switch to a low-carbohydrate diet which involves limiting intake of foods such as white bread, pasta, potatoes, red meat and dairy products. This diet also has a dramatic impact on weight loss, improves cholesterol levels and lowers blood pressure.
Avoid eating junk, fried or processed foods which can clog your arteries.
Exercise: Daily exercise will not only help you lose weight, will also help reduce the risk of contracting diabetes by 80 per cent.
Walk more: Walking might not be all that effective for losing weight, but it will definitely make you healthier.
Avoid smoking: Smoking raises the danger of a wide range of diabetes problems, including heart attack, stroke, nerve injury and kidney maladies.
Reduce stress: Certain hormones which handle stress also play an important role in the handling of sugar by the body. This is why you feel like eating chocolate when distressed. Stress also increases your blood pressure, which leads to heart disease.
Sleep: It is essential to catch the regular eight hours or at least a minimum of six hours of sleep every night.
