Managing type II diabetes through diet and exercise

Type II Diabetes

Lifelong Health:

Achieving Optimum Well-Being with Type-II Diabetes

Diabetes is a serious illness, and it is becoming more and more common in the United States. Obesity statistics are startling, and they are rising yearly; with increased overweight individuals, the risk of Type II diabetes especially, also increases, and few things are undertaken to curb these harmful side effects of the unhealthiness that is taking over this country. While diabetes includes both Type I and Type II, and while both are very common and must be understood, this paper will undertake to understanding Type II diabetes, and will aim to find out exactly what causes this type of diabetes and how society can begin to curb its effect in the populations most affected. Furthermore, the paper will argue that there are two fundamental things that can help a person with diabetes live a better life, and these are healthy eating and regular exercise.

What Must Be Understood

There are two fundamental things that play very important roles in leading a long and happy life, even if diagnosed with diabetes. These two elements are eating healthy and exercising regularly. In order to truly understand Type II Diabetes and how one can combat it, one must also understand that it is possible that this disease's effects can be curbed with care towards diet, as well as the pursuit of a well-established, healthy exercise regimen.

Type II Diabetes is, first, very common. Despite the fact that many Americans are diagnosed with this type every year, few truly know how stable and easy life can be if one were to follow the above-mentioned regimen. This is not to say, however, that it is easy to live with Type II Diabetes. Despite so many diagnosed annually, there are even more Americans who do not know anything about the disease when they are diagnosed, or who are unaware that they are at high risk. Furthermore, whereas there are many causes for being at high risk for the diagnosis, Type II Diabetes is more common in some groups than in others. For instance, African-Americans, Latinos, Native American, Asian-Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and the aged population are at a much higher risk at developing Type II Diabetes.

The Specifics

This disorder is characterized by the fact that the body does not produce enough insulin, or ignored already produced insulin. Because of the fact that insulin is necessary for the body to make glucose for energy purposes, this poses a huge problem. According to some explanations of what causes the disease and how it can affect individuals, which state that when one eats, "the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose, which is the basic fuel for the cells in the body," this is a serious thing indeed.

Furthermore, when there is insulin but it does not take the sugar into cells and rather into the bloodstream, huge diabetes-related complications can arise. It is thus important both to understand this process, combat low insulin levels and ensure that the insulin goes where it is needed so as to avoid diabetes complications.

Because of the ways in which insulin is produced, as well as the fact that diabetes, especially type II adult onset, can lead to both complications and further weight problems, especially if one does not watch his or her diet, exercise is stressed often times by doctors diagnosing diabetes or prescribing diabetes medications.

Exercise

Firstly, it is said that regular exercise is good for anyone, which is very true, but it is especially vital for individuals who suffer from diabetes. Exercise not only help one maintain his or her weight, but also contributes to a stronger heart, better circulation, toning of muscles and achieving general strength. Mentally, exercise is great stress manager and emotionally, it can help a person feel better about himself or herself. Physically, exercise can drastically reduce heart disease and can improve the levels of HDL in the blood. All these facets are not only positive but they can contribute to having a better life despite having Type II diabetes. Lastly, exercise can lower blood pressure, which can contribute to having less complications, as high blood pressure is known to cause many of the chronic complications that occur with diabetes.

Because of the effect exercising has upon the body, a person may feel great about himself or herself and may also achieve a healthy balance, especially since exercise, with time, can "increase the amount of muscle in the body and decrease the amount of fat stored in one's body." This is highly beneficial and occurs because of the fact that muscle cells use more sugar and improve blood sugar levels. Studies state,

"During exercise your body uses more sugar for energy than when your body is at rest. This can result in a rapid lowering of your blood sugar if you are taking insulin or an oral sulfonylurea (such as glipizide, glyburide, or glimepiride). You may have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) during or after exercise. It is important that you keep your blood sugar in a safe range while you exercise. In order to do this, there must be a balance between the sugar used for energy while you exercise, the sugar available from food, and the medication you are on to lower your blood sugar. Testing your blood sugar is the best way to check this balance."

A Good Diet goes a Long Way

Yet another facet to ensure healthiness while living with diabetes is to have proper nutrition. Just as with any diet, a diabetic diet must be well planned. It must include major food groups, such as carbohydrates, salts and fats, but not in excess. For instance, some of the foods advocated by specialists for such a healthy diet can be everything from beans and oatmeal to nonfat yogurt, fish, non-starchy vegetables, wild salmon, almonds, avocado and egg-whites. These foods are not only staples of good diets, but provide healthy and balanced nutrition.

There are, of course, healthy looking foods that can be bad for those with Type II Diabetes and these can include white rice. Furthermore, an individual must avoid the 'usual culprits' such as sugar-laden foods (i.e. chocolate, donuts), and various breads, such as soda bread, all of which can cause glucose levels to skyrocket.

Conclusions

In summary, diabetes is one of the diseases that one can live with relatively comfortably, but an individual must be aware of and follow the specific regimen plans and steps detailed above if he or she truly wants to be healthy. Furthermore, diabetes-related awareness must be increased in this country, as well as what causes this disease and what can contribute to worsening it. It is only in this way that society can truly benefit in the future.

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