If you have diabetes, you will know just how important it is to keep your blood sugar levels in check. Without careful management, you can develop diabetes-related complications such as kidney disease. So it’s essential that you stay in control and carefully manage your condition every day. When you’ve just been diagnosed, this can seem like a difficult task. To help you gain control of your condition and keep your blood sugar levels down, here are some techniques you can use.
Lose some weight
Recent research has found that losing weight can have significant effects on your condition. If you are heavier than you should be, this could be making it difficult for the insulin in your body to work effectively. Therefore making it difficult to improve your blood sugar levels and keep them consistent. So start exercising more, eat healthily and drink green tea to remove this strain on your body. It’s been found that losing as little as five pounds can make a difference and encourage a more balanced reading. So even if you only lose a little, it could have dramatic results. This is considered one of the best ways to lower blood sugar naturally while also improving your mental and physical wellbeing.
Take up yoga
When we get stressed, our bodies create stored energy in the form of glucose and fat. This can then be used to fuel the cells in the body. When diabetics get stressed, this extra energy doesn’t reach the cells it needs to and stays within the blood instead. This causes high readings that could be dangerous. So to keep your levels in check you need to banish stress. Yoga is an exercise method that is ideal for doing just this. Look for classes at local gyms or sports halls or try it yourself at home using fitness DVDs and online tutorials. Other great options for destressing are meditation, positive thinking and reading. Do this regularly to start seeing positive improvements and a more consistent blood sugar reading.
Get some quality sleep each night
Many of us take sleep for granted without realising the effect it has on our bodies. It’s particularly important for diabetics. Seven or more hours of uninterrupted sleep each night can help to maintain a steady blood sugar reading. Sleeping regulates our body’s chemistry and encourages the production of insulin. Lack of sleep can make it more challenging to control your glucose levels. While also increasing your chances of developing cancer and heart disease. So make sure your bedroom is a suitable environment for sleeping in and get to bed at a reasonable time each night. This will give your body the rest it needs to heal and rejuvenate itself for the day ahead.
Like any condition, there will be times when you have good days and bad. It may take some time to get into the swing of things and find what works for you. If you begin to feel that you are losing control of your diabetes, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
