Diabetes has been a bitter pill to swallow, particularly for countries affected by the rising number of cases every year. In 2019, approximately 463 million adults were living with this chronic metabolic disease, characterized by an increase in blood sugar levels; by 2045, this will rise to 700 million, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).
However, having diabetes does not mean you can never have a healthy, everyday life. Working closely with your doctor can help you manage diabetes, and you can also start focusing on some critical changes in your daily life.
Despite being inside your home most of the time due to existing lockdowns and community quarantines, staying active is crucial to help control your blood sugar levels. A little cardio can be a big help, no need to push yourself to do hardcore workouts.
Getting stressed when you have diabetes will do you no good. When you’re stressed, your blood sugar levels go up. That is why it pays to relieve your stress by doing hobbies that relax you and doing some breathing exercises or yoga.
Smoking is harmful to your health, especially if you have diabetes. In addition, it may trigger other health problems, such as heart disease, eye disease, stroke, and kidney disease.
Since hypertension puts a person at high risk of cardiovascular disease, primarily associated with diabetes, reliable blood pressure monitoring and control is highly advised.
Eating healthy food is crucial when you have diabetes. Do not skip or delay meals since it causes fluctuations in blood sugar levels. It also pays to eat more fiber-rich foods like vegetables and cut down on salt. Drinking alcohol, on the other hand, must be avoided.
When it comes to eating sweets, it is advised to avoid simple sugars like cakes and chocolates. But it does not mean that you can’t let anything sweet pass your lips again. Instead, have complex carbohydrates like rice, pasta, cereals, and fresh fruits.
You can use some alternative sweeteners now available in nearby drugstores nationwide. For instance, Santé offers Sweet Via, a sweetener from a natural source with amazing health benefits.
Sweet Via is made with stevia, a natural substitute for sugar, derived from the leaves of a small perennial green shrub. Aside from stevia, Sweet Via contains Inulin, a natural soluble dietary fiber from a chicory plant that promotes digestive health. Studies also suggest that Inulin aids in keeping blood sugar levels low.
