For most people, preventing type 2 diabetes isn’t something they think about often. However, with increased awareness due to rising numbers of patients, it’s more important than ever before to do what you can to avoid this chronic condition. While devastating to health, the good news about type 2 diabetes is that there are ways you can work to prevent it. If you’re interested in learning about these so you can enhance your health, the tips below are crucial
Lose Weight
If you are overweight, obese, or have a BMI that’s too high, then losing weight should be a top priority. There are many ways you can do this, although diet and exercise is normally the most reliable. If you’re not sure where to start, working with a nutritionist and exercise coach can be beneficial. As soon as you’ve reached a healthy weight and are within a normal range for your BMI, work to maintain that.
Stop Smoking
Although smoking is bad for your health overall, it can increase your risk of developing diabetes by up to 40%. In addition to this, smoking while you have diabetes can make it especially difficult to manage this condition.
Exercise Regularly
Exercising for just 30 minutes per day can dramatically decrease your risk of developing this type of diabetes. Not only does it help strengthen your heart but it also helps your body more effectively manage your blood sugar levels. With 30 minutes being easy to fit into your schedule, it’s well worth the effort for the health benefits.
Eat Healthy
Whether you’re at high risk of type 2 diabetes or just want to work to prevent it, a healthy diet is incredibly important. To begin, try cutting out junk foods (including those with sugar, saturated fat, and simple carbohydrates). It’s also important to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet, along with lean meats, as these can help keep you full without the fat or calories that other foods contain.
Tip: Measuring portion sizes is another way to control how much you eat and ensure you’re controlling calories.
Monitor Your Blood Pressure
High blood pressure impacts the majority of individuals who suffer from diabetes. It’s for this reason that you should monitor your blood pressure and address high levels as soon as possible. If you have a history of having high blood pressure, it may be worthwhile to invest in an at-home blood pressure monitoring system.
Are You Concerned About Your Health?
If for any reason you suspect that type 2 diabetes could be playing a role in your life, it’s important to seek help from a care provider as soon as possible. A functional neurologist is an excellent choice, as they have the experience and understanding that’s necessary to properly tackle this health issue. With their help, you can learn more about if this type of diabetes is impacting your health and what you can do about it.