Controlling Diabetes With Diet And Exercise

Controlling diabetes involves management in several different areas. One of those, of course, is monitoring glucose levels. But two other key components of successfully maintaining control over the disease has to do with eating a balanced diet and exercising.

Each of the three of these areas are equally important and directly affect each other. Without eating the proper foods in moderate amounts, and at regular intervals, glucose levels could slip out of line, dropping too low. On the other hand, consuming too much of certain types of foods can send levels sky high, creating a hyperglycemia episode.

Maintaining a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and limited carbs goes a long way in preventing adverse glucose fluctuation. But the proper diet doesn't just have to do with the foods you eat, or how much. Your disease is also affected by when you eat them. Just like a wood burning stove, your body has to maintain a certain level of fuel or the fire, in this case glucose, begins to drop out. This not only goes for balanced meals, but balanced snacks, too.

Exercise is another critical component of management. Exercise burns off excess sugar and disposes of fat. It also works the heart, improves circulation and prevents a host of conditions from elevated cholesterol to plaque buildup in arteries. While lowering bad cholesterol it also raises good cholesterol.

Proper circulation also keeps lower extremities supplied with much-needed blood and oxygen, preventing tissue damage, nerve damage, and even possible death of the tissue. Exercise also helps to maintain glucose levels and keeps joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments limber. Exercise is crucial for diabetics since a sedentary lifestyle advances the effects of the disease.