Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
October 1, 2019 | Evidence in Integrative Healthcare
If patients complain about the difficulty of changing a diet when confronted with increasing blood sugar findings, use this educational information. Patients should understand the longer you have diabetes, the more likely you will have multiple associated health problems. The longer you can delay or prevent diabetes, the better your quality of life. Some problems associated with diabetes are: loss of sensation in extremities, diminished or blurred vision, erectile dysfunction, skin infections, tissue necrosis, fatigue and more. Providers are encouraged to support these three home treatment plans:
- Weight loss
- Adding regular exercise
- Move more: At least 30 minutes of physical activity daily; 5 days a week.
- It’s ok to move in shorter increments of time several times a day if a patient can’t exercise for 30 minutes due to time constraints or physical disability.
- Eating healthier foods most of the time.
- Avoid starchy foods: potatoes, corn, carrots, bananas, rice, bread
- Add green veggies daily
- Eat smaller portions
- Reduce daily calories
- Stop consuming all corn syrup products
- Stop drinking sugary sodas
- Stop smoking
- Reduce or eliminate alcohol
- Reduce or eliminate candy, cookies, pastries