Diabetes is truly a serious condition, but this doesn’t necessarily mean you need to take any drastic measures. Many of those who have been diagnosed struggle with the dilemma of whether they should have surgery just to take the extra weight off.
While a surgical procedure certainly counts as one of your options, it is by no means the only one. Even though those who promote surgery seem to make an effort for it to sound that way. Most of them explain it in a way that makes surgery your only choice as to if it was a ‘life or death scenario.
We have to strongly disagree. The most important thing you should do if you find you are diabetic (or even prediabetic), is to start consulting with your doctor at once, learning how to properly take care of yourself.
How?
The good news is that it’s not difficult at all to get started, and once you’re on that ‘healthy lifestyle‘ train, you won’t want to get off. The best part? If you do it properly and stick to it, you’d be able to handle your diabetes without the daily shots and meditation.
Of course, it strongly depends on where your body is currently when it comes to blood sugar levels and insulin. In some cases, you may need a little medical support to stay fully well. Make sure to heed your doctor’s advice and instructions.
Also, be sure to let them know that you have committed to a healthier lifestyle, your main goal is to get off medication as soon as it’s possible and safe to do. And don’t get discouraged if they don’t share your enthusiasm.
After all, all the more fun it will be to witness their jaws drop when you come back in.
The satisfaction of coming back in with unbelievably amazing test results is immeasurable, the perfect reward for all the effort you’ve put in. Keep your chin up and don’t give up hope even when it seems impossible, we believe in you!
And to show our support, we’re providing you with 5 steps that you can take starting today. These are to make sure you lose any excess weight without having to go through surgery. It doesn’t matter if you are currently on medication or not; these 5 steps are sure to help you feel great again!
1. Cut Out Sugar
That’s right, we’ve decided to start with the most obvious one. And we’re sure you already know this since even those who are not dealing with diabetes know that one who is, needs to cut back on all things sweet, especially generic candy.
Say goodbye to the days when you’d grab a bag of M&Ms at the supermarket or a milkshake at a drive-through. Such seemingly tasty options have zero nutritional benefits but have more than enough sugar, in even the smallest portions.
It may seem hard to do at the beginning, but take our word for it, the less sugar you consume, the less your body will crave it. in other words, you’d be ending a vicious cycle as well as one of the worst habits ever!
A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?
But it’s not like it’s just products like the ones we mentioned above. If you are serious about your mission to boycott sugar, it means you also need to pay close attention to the sugar content of any other foods as well. Sure, all fruit-smoothie may seem like a healthier alternative to any milkshake.
But sadly, that’s wrong. It has just as much sugar as any other super-sweet thing you’d be tempted to indulge in. One single serving contains as much as 54 grams of sugar! Of course, not every flavor and brand is the same, but you get the idea.
The point is that sugar can disguise itself and hide in products that should logically have none at all! That’s why you need to start reading the labels of anything you buy. And steer clear of those who have a high percentage of their calories coming from sugar.
But before you despair, it’s not like all sweet treats are taboo for you. You can still treat yourself to any products which have been sweetened with either pure stevia or raw, organic honey (in small amounts).
2. Out Goes the Junk Food
Were you expecting this next step? Sure you were, as you are aware that sugar isn’t the only culprit when it comes to causing chaos in your blood sugar.
Refined foods are not only stripped of pretty much anything nutritious but they are also packed with so many chemical additives, which is never a good thing.
You can start by refusing to munch on anything when you can’t read the label. For instance, wheat flour is a highly processed ingredient found in way too many grocery store items.
Other than the usual places, like cookies, bread, breakfast pastries, and crackers, it’s even found in vegetables in pre-made dips.
And we’re sorry to have to inform you of this, but whole wheat, despite popular belief, isn’t that much better. It has more fiber, yes, but other than that, it’s the same villain as white flour.
There are plenty of healthy carbs in fresh vegetables and fruits (the latter should be eaten sparingly due to their sugar content).
3. Hello, Protein!
We’re sure you’re tired of ‘don’ts’ by now, so here is one major ‘do’ for you to enjoy. Load up on protein. We are big fans of eggs, free-range chicken, and grass-fed beef. Since meat is an animal product, of course, you’d want to consume meat from healthy animals.
Granted, it can be more expensive than the regular kind, but still cheaper than constant hospital visits or a life filled with more and more medications. The ideal meal for you is one with protein, healthy carbs from vegetables, and healthy fats like avocado.
These foods, combined, provide all the nutrition you’ll need. Not only will they keep you satisfied for longer, but they will also encourage your pancreas to produce hormones whose job it will be to manage your blood glucose levels. Truly a win-win situation.
4. Water is Your Best Friend
It’s not just those who do strenuous exercise who need all the water they can get. All of us need to indulge in generous amounts of water each day. Dehydration is always something one needs to fix quickly. And yet the issue here is that it doesn’t become obvious straight away.
So instead of waiting for any symptoms to appear, why not prevent any dehydration from ever appearing in the first place? You can do that by simply drinking up! We suggest half your body weight in ounces for a proper daily dose.
By the time symptoms appear, the function of your liver will already be inhibited. Because believe us, you do not want to impair your liver in any way.
It is a crucial organ when it comes to burning or storing fat. And if it can’t do its job right, you won’t be able to use the food you consume for energy the way you’re supposed to. Which will also hinder any weight loss goals.
You’re not planning on letting something so basic such as drinking water prevent you from achieving your health goals, are you? We certainly hope not.
5. Be Good to Yourself
This last step sounds a little strange. Be that as it may, it is oh-so-important down your road to self-recovery. What we mean by it is that you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself and fall into a depression just because you think you have to let go of all the ‘good stuff.
Instead, keep giving yourself a pat on the back and encourage yourself to keep on going. After all, you have a clear plan ahead: get well again. And besides, there are so many ways to prepare the food we mentioned to make it healthy, delicious, and make you lose weight, all in one!
Furthermore, instead of spending your whole life concentrating on food, why not indulge in other simple, yet oh-so-satisfying daily pleasures? Need some ideas?
Why not take a nice stroll (either with someone dear to you, or alone to clear your thoughts), go to the movies or theatre, and buy yourself something nice? It doesn’t have to be expensive, even a nice pair of earrings can bring a smile to one’s face. Or treat yourself to a soothing massage.
You deserve it for all your efforts in getting and staying healthy. Good luck, dear readers!
Source: Healthline | Everyday Health
