Keep your sugar in check this World Diabetes Day
Check your blood sugar levels regularly and consult a qualified dietitian if your condition is not under control.
November 14 is a global day meant to raise awareness about diabetes, which according to research affects at least 5% of the South African population.
Diabetes is essentially referred to as a group of diseases which result in too much sugar in the blood. The disease affects the way the body uses glucose to fuel the body’s cells. People with diabetes have too much glucose in their blood and a poor mechanism for converting this sugar into energy.
Diabetes can fall into the kinds Type 1, Type 2 and gestational:
Type 1 diabetes – caused by the immune system attacking and destroys cells in the pancreas, which are meant to create insulin.
Type 2 diabetes – can be caused by poor lifestyle and being overweight. Losing weight and living a healthy lifestyle can reverse this kind of diabetes.
Gestational diabetes – caused during pregnancy. This kind of diabetes often occurs after childbirth.
Children and young adults usually suffer from Type 1 diabetes, although it can occur at any age. People with Type 1 diabetes require insulin injections every day. Women with gestational diabetes are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.
World Diabetes Day – lifestyle tips to keep diabetes under control:
Living a healthy lifestyle is an essential prerequisite to managing and regulating blood sugar and diabetes. This includes eating healthy food, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and many other factors.
Nutritionist, Sheela Krishnaswamy spoke about effective lifestyle measures to control diabetes and said, “Blood sugar regulation is important for diabetes management. It tends to shoot up after a meal, hence what diabetes ‘eats’ plays a huge role in blood sugar regulation.”
Lifestyle tips for blood sugar control in diabetes:
- A well-managed diet with a balance of carbs, protein, fat, and fibre
- Foods rich in protein and fibre can be helpful – almonds, fresh fruits and vegetables, walnuts, seeds, sprouts, whole grains are examples
- Check your blood sugar levels several times in a day
- Diet needs to be modified according to the severity of the disease, a person’s weight and eating habits
- Avoid refined carbs and high-fat foods
- Include more complex carbs in your diet, but in controlled proportions.
- Stay away from aerated drinks and beverages if you have diabetes.
- Avoid exercising on an empty stomach, unless blood sugar levels are under control. If you are diabetic, have a light snack before a workout and try to work out in the morning.
- Quit smoking and consuming alcohol.
- Exercise regularly and be physically active. Make sure you include strength training in your fitness routine
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