Guest Post ? 5 Tips for Managing Type 2 Diabetes

Valerie Johnston is taking over my blog today

5 Tips for Managing Type 2 Diabetes
The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes, and is characterized by the body?s inability to produce enough insulin or its inability to utilize insulin correctly. The peptide hormone insulin is essential for your body to be able to transform glucose into energy. Without insulin, the glucose that you consume through your diet builds up in the cells, which can lead to many diabetes symptoms.
If you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it?s important to know that there are many things that you can do to take control of your health disorder. You don?t need to rely solely on diabetes medication in order to reduce your symptoms.
1. Healthy Diet
Today?s medical professionals now understand the important role that diet plays in the development of diabetes. The link between the modern American diet and the rise in type 2 diabetes cannot be denied. Fast food and other types of processed foods lead to obesity and overall poor health, which are primary causes for type 2 diabetes. Changing your diet may be the most important thing that you can do to reduce your symptoms.
A diet that will help you manage your condition should include fresh fruits and vegetables, and other types of whole foods including whole grains, nuts, and beans. Avoid foods that are high on the glycemic index. The glycemic index is a system used to rank foods based on how they affect glucose levels. Processed foods such as white bread, soda, and white rice are high on the glycemic index.
2. Exercise
Regular exercise is good for all aspects of your health, but can be especially important for managing type 2 diabetes. When you exercise, your blood sugar levels will remain in better balance as the glucose is pushed out of the blood and into your body?s cells. Regular fitness training is also ideal for maintaining a healthy weight, which is another important factor in managing type 2 diabetes.
3. Maintain a Healthy Weight
Obesity and type 2 diabetes go hand in hand, which is why many developed countries (where processed foods are the norm) are suffering from a rising diabetes epidemic. If you are overweight, losing the extra pounds that you are carrying around can make a considerable difference in how well you are able to keep your condition under control. To shed those extra pounds and to keep them off for good, a healthy diet and exercise are essential.

4. Reduce Stress
Ongoing stress can wreak havoc on the body?s ability to control blood glucose levels. If you suffer from stress on a regular basis, now is a better time than ever to work toward reducing your stress levels. There are several stress-reducing approaches that you can follow. A few suggestions include meditation, yoga, and tai chi. Taking simple steps every day to reduce your stress levels will help. For example, getting outdoors for a daily walk, treating yourself to a relaxing massage, and taking time out for yourself to cozy up with a good book are all steps that you can take to reduce your stress levels. In addition, changing your diet to include less caffeine and alcohol can also reduce the stress in your life.
5. Increase Your Knowledge about Type 2 Diabetes
Managing your condition will become much easier the more that you know about type 2 diabetes. While it may seem overwhelming at first, treating your condition will become second nature to you over time. Take a proactive approach by asking your doctor how to monitor your blood glucose levels, why carb counting is important, and how your medication affects your symptoms. Keep a notebook so that you can develop a system that works best for you and that keeps you feeling your best with as few symptoms as possible.
Valerie Johnston is a health and fitness writer located in East Texas. With ambitions of one day running a marathon, writing for Healthline.com ensures she keeps up-to-date on all of the latest health and fitness news.
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Source: http://www.battlediabetes.com/blogs/s/guest-post-%E2%80%93-5-tips-for-managing-type-2-diabetes

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