Stress
Stress can spike blood sugar and can also cause people to snack mindlessly, which is attributable to the brain.
A recent experiment was conducted on a group of people who adhered to healthy eating habits. The experimenters had half of them dip one hand in ice water for 3 minutes (dipping in an ice bath has been shown to cause stress production).
The researchers then tempted the entire group to eat junk food while their brains were scanned by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). As a result, the group that had done the ice water immersion was more likely to succumb to the temptation, and their brains showed less control in the area responsible for self-control.
Breakfast
Eating breakfast can give people better control of their blood sugar. In one study, people with type 2 diabetes ate breakfast every other day and consumed the same amount of calories at lunch and dinner. On the day they skipped breakfast, participants in the experiment had higher blood glucose levels after lunch and dinner than they did at three normal meals.
Tea break
Type 2 diabetes increases the likelihood of heart disease or stroke in patients, and regular tea drinking may reduce this risk. Researchers believe that tea contains flavonoid compounds, which are components that reduce plaque buildup in the arteries. Studies have shown that tea improves the response of blood vessels to stress and also lowers blood pressure and cholesterol.
Experts say you can get the best results by sticking to one or two cups of tea a day, but don’t add too much sugar.
Exercise
It’s recommended that people exercise for 30 minutes five days a week, and when people start from zero, it can feel more intense. But don’t be afraid to start slowly, especially if you are over 60 years old.
A recent study found that achieving half of the exercise levels mentioned above would have health benefits, meaning that 15 minutes of exercise per weekday would result in 75 minutes of exercise per week. Researchers followed more than 120,000 adults aged 60 or older for about 10 years. During that 10-year period, people who exercised only 75 minutes a week at a moderate or vigorous level had a 22% lower mortality rate than those who did not exercise.
Mediterranean diet
The Mediterranean diet is rich in fish, vegetables and grains, which do wonders for human health.
But is this true for people with type 2 diabetes? The American Diabetes Association’s new nutrition guidelines say the same effect is true. If you have type 2 diabetes and follow this diet plan, you can reduce your risk of heart disease by 30%.