That being said, there are some ‘deadly’ sins when it
comes to managing your diabetes. These are commonly encountered
problems here in our clinic, and I thought I would address them
today in this short and ‘sweet’ (yet diabetes safe!) article.
1. Eating Refined Carbs
Many patients of ours love to have biscuits with their
sugarless tea or coffee. Often, they choose a ‘less sweet’ option, without
realising that biscuits may contain refined carbohydrates (maida) and harmful
fats. Instead, choose a sugar free biscuit that is made with whole meal. Alternatively, you could choose a good supplement drink for diabetes as well.They
are widely available.
2. Just Doing Your Regular Work
Exercise is probably the most important part of
managing diabetes. But many believe that regular household or professional work
amounts to exercise. This actually amounts to ‘physical activity’ and not
‘exercise’. When you exercise, you considerably raise your heart rate and blood
pressure. Your breathing rate increases, and you get significantly tired. You
may be unable to speak. This is not the case with regular activity. Exercise is
sustained over 30 – 45 minutes. The heart keeps pumping and the lungs keep
expanding. This is not the case with physical activity. Make sure you
understand the difference, and get in at least an hour a day of exercise 5 days
a week. This will lower your blood sugar.
3. Not Eating On Time
This is a common ‘sin’ of diabetes. While we all lead
busy lives, it is not really an excuse to miss meals or not take them on time.
Every time you delay your meal, you tell your body that you are ‘starving’.
This can change your metabolism completely. The glucose in your bloodstream
gets converted to fat, as this can provide you more energy (back to the days of
chemistry), leading to weight gain and worsening of diabetes. Instead, take
your meals on time, and observe portion control. Small frequent meals are not a
bad thing, provided they are balanced and nourishing.
These are 3 deadly sins of diabetes. Taking the right
steps at the right time can not just lower sugar; it may even help you reverse
diabetes completely. Speak to your doctor if you would like more advice. You could even check out this post if you wish to.
