The Need to Achieve Normal Blood Sugar Levels
An Always Present Challenge
A challenge for many persons with type-2 diabetes is the constant battle with their higher than normal blood sugar levels. Even though aware of what should be done, it can be a daunting task on occasions and a review and a reminder might be in order to help renew enthusiasms to beat the blood sugars challenge that most of us diabetics face from time to time. The standard approach does work and is probably the easiest to follow. That means paying attention to the four pillars of blood sugar control:
- Follow an appropriate diet.
- Inclusion of physical activity in your life.
- Weight control, know what constitutes a healthy weight for your body type and work to achieve that weight, or close to it, in whatever way suits you.
- Medication if needed and prescribed by your doctor.
1. An appropriate dietary plan We have to eat to provide energy and stay alive, but let’s make our food intake as enjoyable and healthy and affordable as possible. For the diabetic that means a diabetic menu adjusted to personal tastes and preferences but taking into account the acceptable ratios of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats and no greater number of daily calories than are needed to meet the energies expended in the daily work and lifestyle activities.
Suggestions for diabetic menu planning and related topics can be found on my companion website here: Diabetic Menu Guide.
2. Physical activity is part of life anyway and varies with what activities that are normally part of getting through the day and doing what you do. If you are not overweight or underweight by any significant amount, then there is less need to add any additional special exercise routines, at least as far as losing weight is concerned although a pleasant walk or swim or bicycle ride might add enjoyment and provide a sense of well-being in spirit and mind. If you are overweight, then some form of regular physical activity that burns up excess calories will need to be added to your routine, daily or perhaps several times a week, and the particular type of activity will depend on personal preferences of course. Comments elsewhere on my website regarding exercise can be found here: The Diabetic Menu and Exercise.
I might add that if you are not overweight then you are in the minority, the average American, according to poll published earlier this year shows that more than 60 percent of adults in the United States are overweight or even obese.
3. Weight Control – what is a healthy weight? To find out how your weight compares to the weight that is considered healthy for a person of about the same height, probably the easiest way is to check with a chart called the Body Mass Index (BMI). The BMI is a chart that shows a range of height and weight ranges and a numerical ranking of a combination of those two factors. The ranking number is what you need to know and it is easy to find it on the chart. Everyone’s target is “25”. You can check yours on the chart, with its simple instructions by clicking: Body Mass Index.
4. Diabetes Medications: Above normal blood sugar levels can be lowered with the aid of medications of which there are several different categories, mainly to either promote more production of insulin by the body’s pancreas or to lower the resistance to insulin by the cell receptors that normally should allow entry of the blood sugars into the cells. But this aspect is primarily a medical matter that we don’t need to go into here.
Important: There is no cure for diabetes
Anyone with diabetes must be under the care of a doctor who will provide appropriate treatment and advice and monitor the progress of the disease as it continues over time.
