Health Maintenance - Diabetes

Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death by disease in the world today. More and more people are now afflicted with diabetes. Today diabetes is affecting about 250 million people and the trend is set to increase to almost 400 million by 2025. We can prevent the increase in the disease by taking good care of our body.

Diabetes is the largest cause of kidney failure. This aside, the complications of diabetes include heart and blood vessel disease, nerve damage, and retinopathy.

Now that we know the consequences of diabetes, we can keep it at bay by constantly monitoring our health, especially our diet. Even if we are healthy, there is no guarantee that diabetes will not strike.

As medical research has proven time and again, continually consuming high sugar content in food coupled with a high carbohydrate diet can cause the body cells to become less sensitive to insulin.

Once the body becomes insensitive to insulin, the pancreas compensates by making more insulin. Years later the pancreas will simply snap.

For healthy body maintenance in diabetes, it is best to take note of the following:

1. Focus on eating a balanced diet where you go for good protein and good fat with low glycemic carbohydrates. You can take vegetables and its oils, olive oil, nuts and beans for protein and fats.

Salmon and tuna are very rich in the omega 3 fatty acids.

Fowl can be the source of protein while the carbohydrates can come from vegetables. However, you should avoid refined foods. Flour based food should also be minimised or totally eliminated.

Foods like fiber, brussels sprouts, cucumbers, green beans, soy beans, tofu and garlic have an insulin-like action on the body and should be included in the diet regularly.

2. Make sure you exercise regularly to ensure body sensitivity to insulin. Even brisk walking for about 30 minutes 3 times weekly is sufficient.

3. Supplements like Vitamins C, E and Selinium in addition to a good combination of multivitamins and minerals should be taken everyday for body maintenance.

Omega 3 as well as evening primrose oil capsule 1000 mg daily should be included in your daily supplements

Lastly, stop drinking coffee and alcohol, and quit smoking. Where possible, avoid stress and obesity.