Diabetes is one of the most common diseases. It can have a major impact on your life. As of now, around 30 million people in the US are suffering from diabetes and around 85 million are suffering from pre-diabetes. The good news is that if you make some changes in your lifestyle, the chances of developing diabetes can be reduced by a significant percentage. Even if you already have diabetes, some lifestyle modifications can help reduce your dependence on medication. You must always consult your clinician before medication or lifestyle changes. Once approved by your doctor, one can try to manage diabetes in a natural way.

1. Long Term Approach: You can’t get rid of diabetes, it lasts a lifetime. However, you can affect it gradually. You will have to be patient. An inactive lifestyle is one of the leading causes of diabetes. So, if approved by your clinician, you may try to lead an active lifestyle and maintain a healthy diet. Make sure that you don’t consume tons of carbs and sugar. Also, avoid saturated fats.

2. Exercise: Obesity is one of the major causes of diabetes. Hence, if you are pre-diabetic, you should try to maintain your weight (or even lose weight, depending on your circumstance) to avoid Type 2 diabetes. If you are looking to lose weight, cardio is a great option. However, cardio works the heart. If you are diabetic you may have heart issues. This is one major reason why consulting a doctor before beginning an exercise regimen is so important. You could also take some time for strength training to make sure your muscles and bones are in a good shape. Also, make sure that you keep an eye on your blood sugar levels while exercising. Your sugar can bottom out, so make sure you know what levels to keep an eye out for, and always keep a sugary snack handy when exercising just in case.

3. Try Yoga: Yoga may also benefit diabetes or pre-diabetes patients. If you do yoga on a regular basis, it will may make you more tolerant to glucose and it can also help with cardiovascular problems. You can also meditate daily to deal with the high stress levels.

4. Avoid smoking: If you smoke, you should consider stopping immediately because it increases the risk of getting type 2 diabetes. If you are already suffering from diabetes, smoking will increase the chances of complications like nerve or kidney disease. The drinking of alcohol can also have negative effects for patients with diabetes so it is generally discouraged, but it is a great subject to bring up with your clinician.

No matter how long ago you were diagnosed, once you have diabetes, you have it for life. However, knowledge is power. This is never truer than when it comes to diseases. The more you know about diabetes the better off you will be. It also pays to know how certain foods affect your blood sugar. It is common for this disease to go undiagnosed so always make sure to get tested when you see your doctor, and keep an eye out for the symptoms. Having a good relationship with your clinician is of paramount importance.

*The author of this blog is not a medical professional and this article does not contain professional medical advice. This blog is not intended to substitute for medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of the contents of this article. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.