Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with diabetes or you’ve been managing it for years, you know the drill from your doctor: Exercise regularly and eat healthy to ensure that you stay at an ideal weight. Is it really so important, though? What’s five pounds here or there?
The team at North Texas Internal Medicine Specialists sees your diabetes as a challenge we can tackle together with confidence. Because we can’t be with you at home or when you’re having fun hitting your favorite after-work eatery, we’re serious about helping you understand the role of your weight in how you manage your diabetes no matter what you’re doing.
We’ve paraphrased Tina Turner here, but it’s a pivotal question when it comes to advanced diabetes care. Excess weight is a risk factor for getting diabetes, and it’s a key factor that can challenge managing the disease when you’ve already received a diagnosis. Diabetes is all about the delicate, changing-by-the-hour dance of your blood sugar levels, and your diet is the head choreographer.
Because diabetes already requires that you closely monitor the fluctuations of your glucose levels, you want to stabilize everything else that you can in terms of your body’s systems. This means maintaining a steady, healthy weight. When you’re at a normal weight, you:
Although these good things are valiant health goals, sometimes it’s easier said than done to get there. Dr. Mihaela Perijoc and our whole team can help you go from intention to reality when it comes to incorporating smart lifestyle choices that support your ideal weight.
There are a host of strategies you can practice to help you keep your weight at a healthy level. The best part is that they’re doable, practical, and lifestyle-adaptable:
As a rule of thumb, don’t consume high-glycemic foods, which can raise your blood sugar abruptly. Be mindful not only of which foods you eat, but how you combine them.
Finally, don’t forget about the role of exercise in keeping your weight on an even keel. Aerobic exercise lowers your blood sugar quickly, while working out with weights can affect it even hours later, so you need to monitor diligently.
We want to empower you to live your best life while managing your diabetes. The what’s and why’s of the condition can feel overwhelming at times, but we’re here to remind you that you’ve got a lot you can control, and your weight is first and foremost.
Visit North Texas Internal Medicine Specialists to learn not just how to live with your diabetes but how to take control of it. Call our Plano, Texas, office or simply book an appointment online. We’re here to help.
