Four ways to step up type 2 diabetes treatment with lifestyle changes

Four ways to step up type 2 diabetes treatment with lifestyle changes – If you have type 2 diabetes, you’re probably already working with your doctor and diabetes care team to control your blood sugar levels. Your treatment plan may include medications, blood sugar control, dietary changes, and more. But type 2 diabetes is a liberal disease, which means that, over time, treatments that initially worked may not be as effective as they once were, according to the American Diabetes Association.

“The mechanisms behind the progression of diabetes are complex, but a key factor is insulin resistance,” says Dr. Omar El Kawkgi, an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. In diabetes, he explains, “the body develops a tolerance to [the hormone] insulin, making it less effective at lowering blood sugar; In this case, more insulin is needed to control blood sugar.”

Over time, people with diabetes may find it more difficult to control their condition and may need to take more medications as the disease progresses.

That’s where healthy lifestyle habits come in, says Dr. El Kawkgi. For example, by keeping your weight in a healthy range, eating well, and exercising regularly, it is sometimes possible to prevent the progression of diabetes. So here are some lifestyle changes to make.

Lifestyle Habits to Adopt when Intensifying Diabetes Treatment

Diabetes is not a ‘set and forgets’ condition,” said Eugene Arnold, CDCES, a board-certified clinical nutritionist and diabetes educator and program manager for the Self-Management Education Program at Johns Comprehensive Diabetes Center. Hopkins in Baltimore.

To manage type 2 diabetes long-term, you need to do three things, says El Kawkgi:

• Eat healthily.
• Do sports regularly.
• Manage your stress levels.

For example, regular exercise and a healthy diet help ward off obesity. Which increases insulin resistance, according to a December 2018 review published in Comprehensive Physiology. “Excess adipose tissue causes inflammation, and other stresses in the body change the way cells respond to insulin and make it harder for insulin to work,” says Arnold.

He says you don’t have to make all of these changes at once. Instead, focus on completing one goal at a time. Here are four steps to start incorporating it into your daily routine. They can help you increase your type 2 diabetes treatment if your current plan isn’t working.

Focus on your food choices. Unfortunately, no single “diabetes diet” fits all needs. So El Kawkgi says it’s crucial to work directly with a nutritionist and doctor to customize your diet.

One way to pay attention to eating healthy is to focus on making healthy food choices and controlling portion sizes,” she says. In general, a diet rich in the following can help control blood sugar and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Which is higher in people with diabetes:

• Nutrient-dense, non-starchy vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, carrots, celery, green beans, mushrooms, and tomatoes
• Lean proteins, like chicken, turkey, and fish.
• Plant-based proteins like tofu, lentils, and hummus
• High-fiber carbohydrates such as whole grains

Step up Your Workout.

If you’re not moving your body regularly. According to El Kawkgi, it’s time to find a form of exercise that makes you feel good. In terms of physical achievement. The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise,” he says.

Staying active is one of the best ways to combat insulin resistance. “Exercise uses our muscles to absorb sugar from the bloodstream. Which helps lower blood sugar without relying on insulin,” explains El Kawkgi. “Weight loss can also slow down insulin resistance, making cells more sensitive to insulin again.”

Manage Your Stress. – 2 diabetes treatment with lifestyle

If you’re struggling with increased focus, it could affect your diabetes control. That’s because stress can raise blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and heart rate, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Stress management is essential. “Stress plays an important role in our ability to cope with chronic illness because it affects our emotional well-being, disrupts our sleep. And can trigger various unhealthy habits,” says El Kawkgi.