Taking Control of Your Diabetes

"Your doctor just diagnosed you pre-diabetic or Type 2 diabetic. He told you to watch your weight, diet and begin an exercise program.

If you don’t follow these broad, 3-step guidelines, you run the risk of heart attach, stroke, blindness, kidney damage, sexual dysfunction and amputations.

Here are some 6 additional tips and specific information to help you cope with your challenging, but manageable condition:

• Share your feelings with a support group.

  Being diagnosed “diabetic” or even “pre-diabetic” can be frightening. By working through your fears with others in the same boat, you’ll realize diabetes is manageable, if you take control. Your local American Diabetes Association Chapter can give you support group meeting times and locations.

• Manage Your Stress Level.

  Studies show that stress has an effect on blood glucose levels. Get your mind under control and your body will follow. Yoga and meditation are two good ways to do this.

• Avoid Sugar and High Fructose Corn Sweeteners.

  Passing on sugar is an obvious ways to better manage your weight. But products with high fructose corn-sweetened products (soda in particular) have a double whammy. Not only are they high in calories, they tend to drain your system of chromium, a key mineral that helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Before you eat or drink anything, make sure you avoid this health-draining ingredient.

• Exercise 5 days a Week.

  You’ve heard it over and over again. Get off the couch and on the treadmill. But not all of us can afford our own gym or club membership. It doesn’t matter. Walking or roving, an exercise regimen developed by noted author Dr. Jon Leonard, is just as good. Roving helps you get the calorie-burning activity you need, without any costly expense.

• Add Vitamins (E, C) and minerals (Chromium) to your diet.

  Diabetics tend to have a short supply of Vitamins E and C. And they also lack the essential Chromium mineral. Taking high quality versions of these three supplements can improve your health and give you better blood sugar control.

• Add Cinnamon to Your Diet.

  Noted WebMD spokesperson Dr. Rosenfeld says that a half teaspoon of cinnamon will help you control your blood sugar. In fact, he put his own Type 2 diabetic wife on this kitchen spice prescription.

Weight, diet and exercise are what the doctor ordered. By following these additional 6 tips, you’ll find that you’ll start taking charge of your diabetic condition more quickly.