How to Handle a Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), greater than 34 million people in the United States have diabetes, and of those people, greater than 90% of them are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. While everyone’s situation is different, there are many ways to handle this diagnosis well and wind up thriving, perhaps even reversing the condition.

Type 2 diabetes is highly controllable and highly reversible. The first thing to keep in mind, as difficult as it may be, is to not panic, as it is far from a death sentence. It is a very manageable condition.

The first key to handling type 2 diabetes is working to lose weight. Even just losing a few extra pounds can make a big difference in terms of blood sugar levels.

Weight loss can best be accomplished with diet and exercise. Cutting down on portions and limiting your intake of carbohydrates and sugars, as well as ensuring you exercise 30 minutes a day on most days of the week, are critical. Note that not all carbohydrates are bad, but the amount you take in, as well as the foods you combine them with, make a difference. Additionally, you don’t need to be sprinting or doing high-intensity exercise. Just moderate walking or biking that gets your heart rate up slightly and leads to you breaking a sweat for 30 minutes per day is sufficient.

Staying active throughout the day is also critical. If you work in a sedentary job, try to make sure you get up a stretch for 3-5 minutes every 15-20 minutes.

Managing type 2 diabetes can be quite difficult at first, but if you combine your prescribed medication with diet and exercise, you can see positive results quite often, leading to the condition being highly controlled or even reversed. However, it is best to not go about it alone. If you feel you need the help of an expert to help you manage your condition, don’t hesitate to reach out to RML Best Wellness today! We’re here for you. We can personalize diet and exercise plans to your specific needs and preferences, and coach you through virtually every mental and physical step of the process. We take all of the thinking and preparing out of managing diabetes for you, and simply provide you with the guidance you need to succeed and live a healthier life.

Sources: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html