Health advice for diabetics

People with diabetes, to stay healthy, follow these recommendations.

  • Say “Mhat”  Learning to meditate can help reduce stress and improve blood sugar levels.
  • Get out there  Exercise helps control weight and blood sugar, and almost everyone can do a brisk walk every day.
  • Eat right  Follow a meal plan. If not, ask your doctor to recommend a dietitian who specializes in diabetes to help.
  • Prepare for travel  Before you travel, get a physical exam, bring extra medications, and adjust the dose of your medication for time zone changes.
  • Lose 10% of your weight   Lose 10% of your weight through dietary interventions and exercise.
  • Buy expensive  Swap saturated fats and refined sugars for healthy fats from nuts and fresh fruit, respectively.
  • See clearly  Diabetes complications can lead to loss of vision or blindness. Schedule a comprehensive eye exam at least once a year.
  • Stand up  Patients may be unaware of foot injuries. The feet should be checked daily for blisters, cuts and ulcers.
  • Show some color  There should be green, yellow and red foods on the plate, such as spinach, squash and tomatoes.
  • Learn more  Get news, expert advice, blood sugar trackers and more about diabetes.

Dr. Adrian Vella, an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota week, gives the following advice.

  • Use the web or your smartphone to help manage your daily diet  Online tools can help track calorie consumption, create meal plans, and provide important nutritional information that can help with healthy eating choices.
  • Prepare a pedometer  People with diabetes need to exercise. For many patients that means getting out for a walk. Set an exercise goal.

Dr. Deborah J. Wexler, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and director of the Clinical Center for Diabetes at Massachusetts General Hospital, makes the following recommendations.

  • Seeking help  Diabetes is frustrating. Patients may inexplicably feel sad, anxious or depressed. Seeking help will make you better able to cope with the challenges.
  • Eating in moderation is crucial  Limit the amount of food you want to eat on your dinner plate and don’t take your meal a second time.

The following is advice from Dr. Sammuel Andrews II, an endocrinologist at Osner Medical Center in New Orleans and co-author of “The New Sugar Buster.

  • Choose foods that don’t raise your blood sugar  This means eating brown rice or basmati rice and whole-grain pasta. Don’t drink fruit juices; replace them with fresh fruit and coarse fiber foods.
  • Stay active every day  This helps control weight and blood sugar levels. Ride a bike, swim or walk every day.