Part of controlling your diabetes the natural way includes dietary and lifestyle changes. If you are interested in managing your type 2 diabetes without medication, your doctor will be able to explain your options to help you stay as healthy as possible. Otherwise, your type 2 diabetes can lead to kidney failure, heart disease, blindness, and limb loss.
How Can I Control My Diabetes Without Medicine?
If your doctor says that you may not require medication to successfully manage your type 2 diabetes, you will need to focus on several factors: lifestyle, diet, exercise, and weight control. Let’s take a look at what this entails:
Stop Smoking
To prevent complications related to diabetes, smoking cessation is recommended. Studies show that smokers are much more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than nonsmokers. Smoking can actually contribute to insulin resistance, therefore being very dangerous for type 2 diabetics.
Work with a Dietitian
To manage type 2 diabetes, you need to make certain changes to your diet. The type 2 diabetes diet emphasizes complex carbohydrates (such as grains and vegetables), low-fat dairy, fruits, lean meats, poultry, and fish.
However, working with a certified nutritionist can help you avoid eating too much of a good thing in your diet, since healthy foods can still make you gain weight. For example, fruits have a lot of sugar and calories.
A nutritionist or dietitian can help ensure that you meet your daily nutritional needs with smaller yet filling portions. They can also make recommendations for grocery shopping – you might be surprised at the foods you will add to your diet that you really enjoy, and how they can help you avoid having to take prescription medications for the condition.
Exercise
Another important aspect of type 2 diabetes management is exercise; after all, many diabetics lead a sedentary lifestyle. Exercise not only helps you lose weight, but it also helps lower blood glucose levels and encourages better insulin regulation.
A combination of cardio (aerobic exercise), stretching, and strength training (muscle building) will do wonders for keeping your blood sugar levels on par. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day by walking, cycling, swimming, or dancing. Do something you enjoy doing so you get in the habit.
Lose Weight
Having a high amount of visceral fat has been linked to insulin resistance, which is how type 2 diabetes begins. With insulin resistance, your cells no longer respond well to insulin, which is necessary to break down glucose from the food you eat for energy.
Insulin resistance raises the glucose levels in your bloodstream, which leads to diabetes. Therefore, keeping your weight within the ideal range for your gender and height will help you keep your diabetes under control.
Individualized Diabetes Management in Texas
If you are looking for excellent medical care for your diabetes, our caring and supportive medical team here at Carrus Care Clinic is here for you on the campus of the Atoka County Medical Center. We treat and provide health-management services that are highly personalized according to the unique needs of our patients.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our providers, contact us today by calling us at (580) 364-8205 or by filling out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to seeing you.
