Living with Diabetes

People with diabetes have to take special care of themselves in order to manage their condition and prevent serious complications from arising. Although diabetes can cause vision loss, heart disease and kidney failure, with the proper care, diabetics can effectively ward off these complications.
 
Living with diabetes means that people have to regularly check their blood glucose levels and possibly inject themselves with insulin. However, staying healthy with diabetes goes far beyond simply monitoring blood sugar. Eating a low fat, healthy diet and exercising regularly are also essential to controlling diabetes.
 
In this section, we will outline the various factors diabetics and those living with diabetics need to be watchful of to keep this condition in check. Our articles discuss not only the steps diabetics should take to control diabetes but also the particular substances they should avoid to prevent severe side effects from causing major health problems.

Herbal Supplements for Diabetes

While diabetics should follow the traditional treatment therapies, such as insulin injections, to control their diabetes, herbal supplements can also help those with diabetes control their blood sugar levels naturally. Some herbal supplements for diabetes include:
  • bitter melon, the most widely used natural treatment for diabetes
  • cinnamon
  • green tea
  • gurmar, an Indian spice that translates from Hindi to "sugar destroyer."
Keep in mind that, while herbal supplements for diabetes can be effective, those with diabetes also need to make permanent lifestyle changes. Talk to your doctor before you start taking any herbal supplements for diabetes.

Exercise Tips for Diabetics

If you are a diabetic and don’t have a regular exercise routine, remember to start off slowly. While fitness experts recommend that you get at least 30 minutes of aerobic (also known as cardio) exercise each day, those who aren’t in the best shape should start out with 10 to 15 minutes of aerobic exercise. Because some diabetics suffer from nerve and joint damage, doctors generally suggest that they stick to low-impact cardio routines, including:
  • bicycling
  • elliptical trainer workouts
  • low-impact aerobics
  • roller skating or roller blading
  • swimming.
Along with the cardio exercise, diabetics will also need to complete their workouts with stretching and strength training. Remember to consult your doctor before you begin a new exercise routine.

Blood Pressure, Cholesterol and Diabetes

While controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels is important staying healthy, diabetics need to be especially mindful of both their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Unfortunately, about 60 percent of diabetics suffer from high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Because high blood pressure strains the body’s heart and circulatory systems, diabetics who also suffer from hypertension are at a high risk of developing vision problems, heart disease and nerve damage.
 
Similarly, high cholesterol puts added stress on a diabetic’s heart, which also contributes to the risk that he will develop heart disease or suffer a stroke. Talk to your doctor about your treatment options if you are a diabetic suffering from high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol.

Alcohol, Drugs and Diabetes

Although drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, using drugs and smoking are all known to be harmful to our health, diabetics, in particular, need to limit or completely avoid all of these behaviors, depending on the severity of their condition. For example, while it’s fine for diabetics to enjoy the occasional glass of wine or pint of beer, those with nerve damage should refrain from drinking alcohol altogether, as this substance is a nerve toxin.
 
If you are unsure about what you can and can’t consume, consult your doctor about the relationship between alcohol, drugs and diabetes.