Type 1 Diabetes Treatment
Food, Drinks and Vegetables
It is essential to consume a healthy diet when you are suffering from type 1 diabetes. That does not mean you cannot amuse yourself with tasty food, consisting of some of the favorites. Some researchers used to assume there was a diabetic diet. They think people having type 1 diabetes had to neglect all the foods consisting of sugars or stop consuming other foods. But when you are having type 1 diabetes, you can consume the same healthy diet as everyone else can. Follow few general guidelines are in the following:
- Consume less unhealthy fat:
Cut off all the saturated fats that are present in high fat meats such as regular ground beef and bacon as well as complete fat dairy such as butter and whole milk. Unhealthy fats increase the risk of heart disease. Having diabetes, you might face increasing odds of having heart disease. Make good food choices to reduce the risk of having type 1 diabetes.
- Attain enough fiber:
It might be helpful in controlling your blood sugar level. You can get fiber from beans, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Try to attain 25-30 grams per day. Foods that are high in fiber are always a good choice in comparison to low-fiber carbs such as processed sugary foods and refined white grains.
- Diabetes superfood
The American Diabetes Association recommends you consume these delicious items. They are low in carbohydrates (also called low glycemic index foods). And they are rich in key nutrients such as fiber, calcium, potassium, magnesium and other essential vitamins.
- Sweet potatoes
- Beans
- Citrus fruits
- Berries
- Dark green leafy vegetables
- Nuts
- Tomatoes
- Whole grains
- Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids (such as salmon)
- Fat-free milk and yogurt
Drinks
Low calorie or zero calorie drinks are normally the best choice when selecting something to reduce your thirst. Squeeze fresh lemon or lime juice into your drink for refreshing, it is a low-calorie kick. Remember that low sugar choices like vegetable juice must be taken in moderate quantities. Lower fat dairy consists of naturally occurring milk lactose, sugar, so this drink must be considered in the total carbohydrate allowance for each day. Whether you are out or at home, here are some diabetes friendly drink choices:
- Water
- Green smoothie
- Vegetable juice
- Seltzer water
- Kombucha
- Herbal tea
- Tea
- Sugar-free lemonade
- Milk alternatives
- Unsweetened coffee
- Low fat milk
Vegetables
Vegetables that are non-starchy and are rich in fiber and have less impact on the blood sugar in comparison to starchy vegetables. Non-starchy consist of:
- Mushrooms
- Bell peppers
- Eggplant
- Green such as kale, lettuce, pak choi, rocket, spinach, cabbage and watercress
- Cauliflower and broccoli
- Green beans
- Zucchini
Therefore, starchy vegetables like pumpkin, corn and potatoes consist of more sugar. However, people might keep these in their diet in small quantities as long as they observe their blood glucose level.
Lifestyle
Some lifestyle changes might be beneficial to prevent type 1 diabetes. Some of them are in the following:
- Eat healthy: This is critical when you are experiencing type 1 diabetes, because what you consume have effect on the blood sugar level. No foods are off limits strictly. Focus on consuming only as much as your body’s requirement. Reduce foods that are rich in fat and sugar. Keep in mind that carbohydrates turns into sugar, so have a check on your carbohydrate intake. Try to make it about the similar form meal to meal. This might be even more significant if you take drugs or insulin to sustain the blood sugar levels.
- Get regular checkups: Visit your doctor almost twice a year. Diabetes type 1 increases the odds of heart diseases. So know your numbers: A1C (blood sugar average over 3 months), blood pressure and cholesterol. Get a complete eye examination every year. Visit a food doctor to examine for some problems such as nerve damage and foot ulcers.
- Exercises: if you are physically active now, it is the time to begin. You do not have to go to the gym and do cross-training. Just ride a bike, walk or plat active other than playing video games. Your goal must be 30 minutes of physical activity that makes your breath a bit heavier than most of the weekdays and makes you sweat as well. An active lifestyle aids you to have control on type 1 diabetes by bringing your blood glucose level down. It also reduces the risk of having heart disease. Plus, it might be helpful for you to ease stress and lose some extra pounds.
- Managing stress: When you are stressing out, your blood sugar levels increase. And when you are stressed, you might not manage your type 1 diabetes as well. you might not remember to eat right, forget to exercise or take medicines. Find other ways to relieve stress by yoga, taking deep breaths or hobbies that will make you feel relaxed.
- Watch out your alcohol: It might make it simpler to control your blood sugar level if you do not attain a lot of liquor, beer and wine. So if you select to drink, do not over do it. The American Diabetes Association says that women who are drinking alcohol must have no more than just one drink each day while men should have no more than two drinks. Alcohol might make your blood sugar levels get too low or too high. Examine your blood sugar level before drinking and take some steps to avoid low blood sugar. If you are utilizing drugs or insulin for your type 1 diabetes, consume when you are drinking. Few drinks such as wine coolers might be increasing in carbs, so consume this into account when you are counting your carbs.
- Stop smoking: Diabetes might make you prone to have some health conditions such as eye disease, blood vessel disease, foot problems, nerve damage, stroke, kidney disease and foot disease. Visit your doctor regarding ways to quit smoking. (9)
Exercises
Exercise is an essential part of curing type 1 diabetes. But it is not as easy as going for a walk or run. Exercise impacts on your blood sugar level. So you have to maintain your insulin dosage and the food you are consuming with any physical activity, even easy tasks around the yard or house. Knowledge is power. Examine your blood sugar during, before and after a physical activity to know how it impacts you. Some things will form your levels go high others will not. You can reduce your insulin or have snacks on carbohydrates to maintain it from lowering quite low. If you are having high blood sugar, more than 240 mg/dL test for ketones, the acids that might result from increasing sugar levels. If you are ok then you should be cool to go. If they are increasing, skip your workout.
You will also need to know how food impacts your blood sugar. Once you know the role fats, carbs and protein play, you can form up a healthy plan of eating that aids in keeping your levels where they must be. A registered dietitian or diabetes educator can aid you get started. For individuals who are having type 1 diabetes or almost any other diseases that matter the exercise benefits cannot be over narrated. Exercise aids in lowering blood pressure, controlling weight, triglycerides, lower harmful LDL cholesterol or increasing healthy HDL cholesterol reduce anxiety; enhance your general well being and strengthen bones and muscles. There are few benefits for individuals who are having type 1 diabetes: exercise reduces blood glucose level and countering insulin resistance and enhances your body’s sensitivity to insulin.
Various studies underscore other and these benefits from exercises. Following are the some highlights of few results:
- Women who are having type 1 diabetes who spend almost four hours each week doing regular exercise (consisting walking) or vigorous exercise almost 40% reduces the risk of having heart disease than those women who are not physically active. These benefits persist even after the researchers make them adjust for astonishing factors such as smoking, BMI and other health disease risk factors.
- All kinds of exercises such as resistance, aerobic or doing both (combined training) are equally good at reducing HbA1c ranges in individuals who are having type 1 diabetes.
- Therefore, people who are having type 1 diabetes who walk for almost two hour each week are less likely to die of heart disease because of their sedentary lifestyle and those who exercise for almost three to four hours each week reduce their risk even more.
- Exercise reduces HbA1c ranges by 0.7 percentage point in individuals of various ethnic groups who are having type 1 diabetes who are on different medication and following various diets and this enhances occurrence even though they do not lose any weight.
- Aerobic exercise and resistance training both aid in reducing insulin resistance in sedentary older people previously having abdominal obesity are at higher risk for type 1 diabetes. (10)