Key points:
- Diabetes is a lifestyle disease caused by unhealthy lifestyle.
- Some simple measures that can be incorporated into one’s daily routine.
Diabetes is a condition that impairs the body’s ability to process blood glucose, otherwise known as blood sugar. But, one needs to understand that it is actually a “lifestyle disease” caused by following an “unhealthy lifestyle”, said nutritionist Munmun Garewal in an Instagram post. There are few tips in one’s lifestyle can manage the condition. Here are some simple measures that can be incorporated into one’s daily routine.
Change your lifestyle
“Let’s get this straight first: diabetes is not caused by eating sweets or consuming sugar. It is really a ‘lifestyle disease’ i.e. the consequence of following an unhealthy lifestyle. Adopt appropriate lifestyle changes that focus on eating right, exercising consistently and regulating bed timings,” she wrote.
The diabetes diet
Eating is not grazing. Eating as per hunger
ensures that we are not starving and eating at the right times while keeping blood sugar steady.
Carbohydrates are essential for diabetics. Just stay away from the processed/refined variety like biscuits, cookies, muffins etc.
Adding fat to a meal lowers its glycemic index (GI). More the fat, the slower the sugars (‘carbohydrates’) are digested, and lower is the glycemic index. Add ghee, nuts and seeds to your meals.
Get that quota of proteins
Protein helps increase insulin-sensitivity. Have wholesome meals like khichdi kadhi, rice dal, rice dahi, egg and roti so as to have an optimal or complete protein profile.
The ‘magic’ of exercise
The American Diabetes Association advises to perform 150 minutes/week of exercise. Get moving! Incorporating strength training into the workout regimen is crucial to increase insulin sensitivity. Structured and progressive strength training improves how the body uses insulin and allows glucose to get around the body better.
The importance of good sleep
Insufficient sleep or sleeping at irregular hours causes our ‘body clock’ to malfunction and consequently affects the natural, biological processes such as secretion of insulin that are ‘programmed’ into the human system. Make sure to get good, restful sleep daily. Equally importantly, make sure to go to bed and get up at the same time so that the body is fully in sync with the body clock.
