Diet and Exercise Is Key for Diabetics

If you’re living with diabetes, being overweight or obese heightens your chances of complications. Losing weight through healthy eating and exercise can help you better manage your diabetes and lower your risk of additional health problems.

The first step to eating healthy is choosing the right foods. Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dried beans and lean proteins. You should also consume low-fat milk and diary products and healthy fats in moderation. Healthy fats include vegetable oils mayonnaise and margarine with no trans fat. You can continue to enjoy potato chips, cakes, soda and other snacks, but it’s important that you reduce your intake of these types of foods.

In addition to choosing the right foods, be sure to watch the amount of food you consume. Portions consumed at restaurants and at home have greatly increased over the past 10 years. Eating too much, even healthy food, can cause you to gain weight.

Physical activity is a critical component of a healthy lifestyle. It can help lower blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure levels and decrease your risk of chronic diseases. Calories are in everything you eat and drink. You can burn the calories you consume through exercise. The more exercise you do, the more calories you can burn. Diet and exercise go hand in hand for everyone and is especially important if you’re living with diabetes.

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