Make your own health plan for type 2 diabetes
Those who are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are usually over 40 years old; many are overweight, and most are living a sedentary lifestyle. They may have been living like this for most of their lives and the bad habits have become ingrained over time. However doctors agree that Type 2 diabetes can often be controlled with changes in diet, increased physical activity, and losing weight. What you need is a individual health plan for type 2 diabetes.
Americans in particular eat an atrocious diet that is loaded with unhealthy fat, far too many calories, and not near enough fruit, vegetables, and whole grain foods. We are famous for eating “on the run.” We love our fast food joints. Dinner often consists of a double cheeseburger with a side of fries. We slowly gain weight, and with that weight we put too much demand on our pancreas. It can’t keep up with the need for insulin. We are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
Something has to change! As a matter of fact, several things have to change. First let’s talk about diet. There was a time when those who needed to eat a reduced-calorie or reduced carbohydrate diet were mostly left out in the cold by food manufacturers, but that’s changed. There are a lot of very good food choices out there that fit very nicely into a restricted calorie or carbohydrate diet – but YOU have to choose those foods.
Talk to a nutritionist. Your doctor will very likely recommend one anyway. Pay attention. Take notes. Follow the advice. You can then formulate a diet plan that suits you, which means you are more likely to stick to it.
The next change is that the sedentary lifestyle has got to go. You’re going to have to give up being a couch potato. You’re going to have to start a good exercise program – one that you can stay with. Don’t ever start an exercise program without the blessing of your doctor, but doctors will always allow a reasonable amount of exercise based on your overall health.
Probably the hardest thing you will face is the resistance your mind will create against all these changes. Knowing you HAVE to do something doesn’t make it any easier. Your mind will come up with all sorts of excuses to not exercise, or to have a couple of cookies for instance. You will have to be strong and be aware of what is happening until you healthy lifestyle changes become habits.
So change your eating habits. Start exercising. Lose weight. Live long!
