Being diagnosed with diabetes can completely change your life if you let it, but it doesn’t have to. Yes, you now have a disease that you will have to manage for the rest of your life, but having Type I or Type II Diabetes isn’t a life-ruiner.
You will still be able to lead a life that is just as normal, happy, and fulfilling as anyone else, and diabetes won’t take that away from you as long as you take care of yourself properly. Diabetes is a common, manageable disease, and while there is no cure for it, treatment is highly successful and won’t compromise your quality of life or longevity. You may have to make a few adjustments when it comes to food and exercise, but that’s really not a big deal. After a while, you probably won’t even notice the small tweaks in your life & you will probably enjoy maintaining a healthy lifestyle!
A healthy diet doesn't have to be boring or flavorless.
The biggest issue that most diabetics worry about is what they can and cannot eat. Contrary to popular belief, a diabetes diagnosis doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to eat delicious food. How does Nectarine-Blueberry Crisp sound? Or Italian Flank Steak Pinwheels? Browse Pinterest or other recipe websites to find more delicious, diabetes-friendly recipes, and you won’t ever have to miss out on the good stuff. Or, if you already have a favorite recipe, but it isn’t very healthy, look up alternative ingredients so you can still eat your favorite food and stay healthy. For example, if you are an Italian food addict, substitute your carb-filled pasta for zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash to retain the flavor while still reducing the carbs. When it comes to desserts, you can find many sugar substitutes out there that you can safely consume instead of sugar, like Splenda or Truvia.
You can make exercise enjoyable.
Exercise is important for everyone, but even more so for those with Type II Diabetes. If your doctor has recommended weight loss as part of your health plan, you need to follow through and get those feet moving! Even if you hate doing exercise, find a sport that doesn’t really feel like a sport to you, such as swimming. You can splash around and lay out for a while, but try to swim a few laps every 20 minutes to get your heart rate up. Or, you can skip the gym altogether and start taking your dog on two long walks day, once in the morning when you get up and once after dinner. Walking, especially with your best friend, can be very enjoyable, and it’s an activity that a lot of people partake in to stay healthy, even if they don’t have diabetes.
Diabetes doesn’t have to shackle you to your home.
Another important aspect of life is traveling, and you shouldn’t ever let your diabetes interfere with your grand plans. All you have to do is complete a little planning ahead of time, and you’ll be able to enjoy a wonderful vacation with your loved ones. If you will be flying, obtain a note from your physician that states that you need to bring your insulin and syringes in your carry-on bag to prevent any problems or delays with getting on the plane. For any kind of travel, it’s always a good idea to bring twice as much medication as you should need. What if you end up wanting to stay for a few extra days or you are forced to because your car broke down? You don’t want to end up in a panic looking for a local doctor, so pack twice as much insulin, syringes, and other medications to save yourself a lot of worry. If your trip is going to require you to do more exercise than normal, such as walking tours or mountain biking, check with your doctor to see how you will need to adjust your insulin levels and food intake.
