According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention34 million Americans – about one in ten – have diabetes. Type 2 is the most common, accounting for 90-95 percent of cases. “In type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t use insulin well and can’t keep blood sugar at normal levels,” they explain the condition that develops over many years but is usually diagnosed in adults. Fortunately, type 2 diabetes can be preventable, and your chances of developing it can be minimized with a few important lifestyle choices explained Dr. Sunitha Posina, MD, Internist from New York City. Read on to learn about some of the daily habits that can lead to diabetes – and to ensure your health and the health of others, these are not to be missed Signs that your illness is indeed coronavirus in disguise.
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When someone is diagnosed with diabetes, one of the most important changes they need to make has to do with their diet as it boosts blood sugar, emphasizes Dr. Posina. “It’s important to educate yourself about different foods to choose from, what to avoid, and which foods can cause significant glycemic fluctuations,” she explains. “Minimizing foods with high blood sugar levels and avoiding processed foods is also crucial.”
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In addition to nutrition, Dr. Posina that it is also important to keep your weight in balance through exercise. “Studies have shown that 30 to 45 minutes of aerobic activity is critical to our health,” she explains. “Exercise helps improve blood sugar control, especially in type 2 diabetes, and also reduces cardiovascular risk.”
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If you want to avoid diabetes, take the pack off. “Smoking makes it difficult to control blood sugar because nicotine can reduce the effectiveness of insulin and increase the need for insulin in smokers,” says Dr. Posina.
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Regular lack of sleep leads to hormonal imbalances and, most importantly, an increase in cortisol levels, which leads to an increase in blood sugar levels, explains Dr. Posina. “It also causes less insulin release after meals, which leads to increased blood sugar,” she says. Additionally, a lack of proper sleep affects your appetite and can lead to late night snacks and other bad habits “all of which can make diabetes difficult to deal with”.
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Dr. Posina explains that skipping meals can cause your blood sugar to drop, especially if you are on medication. “It’s very important that you don’t skip breakfast and be careful,” she says.
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While occasional stress is fine, constant stress creates hormonal imbalances, with cortisol levels being hit hardest, “which directly affects insulin and blood sugar,” says Dr. Posina.
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It’s not nice to hear, but diabetes can be fatal. “The life expectancy of people with type 2 diabetes is likely to be reduced by up to 10 years because of the condition,” says one report. “People with type 1 diabetes have traditionally lived shorter lives, with life expectancy reduced by over 20 years.” Swap your bad habits for better ones. If you feel you have diabetes, see a doctor. As for yourself, if you want to survive this pandemic in the healthiest way, you shouldn’t miss this one 35 Places Most Likely to Catch COVID.
