Diabetes Management

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the body fails to process sugars correctly, resulting in damage to your internal organs over time.

What dietary changes can I make to help manage my blood sugar?

Making healthy changes is important for everybody, but if you have diabetes, you also need to understand how those choices affect your blood sugar. What you eat, how much you eat, and when you eat can make a big difference in controlling your diabetes.

Here are the key components of a diet that promotes consistent blood sugars:

• Count your carbohydrates: Keep a carb count within guidelines established by your doctor.
• Balance every meal: Make sure your plate contains fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
• Choose complex carbohydrates: Eat whole grains and vegetables, instead of food with refined sugar and other simple carbohydrates.
• Follow a routine: Coordinate your insulin with your meals according to your doctor’s instructions and eat at the same times every day.

Can routine exercise help me manage my diabetes?

Yes. Regular exercise can help you lose weight, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. Dr. Ladenheim will help create an exercise plan customized for you.

These tips can help:

1. Follow the exercise plan established by your doctor
2. Exercise routinely according to a set schedule
3. Check your blood sugar before, during, and after physical activity; ask your doctor what levels are safe for exercising
4. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, which can affect your blood sugar levels
5. Always keep glucose tablets or a light snack nearby in case your blood sugar drops

Can diabetes be managed without medication?

If you have type 1 diabetes, your body does not produce insulin, the hormone responsible for breaking down sugar in the blood. For this reason, type 1 diabetics will always require insulin despite lifestyle changes.

If you have type 2 diabetes, you may have the possibility of eliminating the need for medication. Obesity, poor diet, and lack of physical activity are key contributors to type 2 diabetes, so lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise can not only eliminate the need for medications for some people, but also completely control the disease and the damage it causes.