by Caitlin H,
November 27, 2023
Type 2 diabetes occurs when too much sugar in the blood disrupts the body’s ability to process sugar properly, leading to immune, neurological, and circulatory disorders such as heart disease, nerve damage, eye and hearing impairment, skin conditions, and sleep breathing Pause and long-term rehab times.
If you have type 2 diabetes, you probably know how important a healthy lifestyle is in managing your condition.
Nutritious and healthy diet
A balanced, comprehensive diet is one of the most important ways to control the condition. Multiple studies have linked a poor diet consisting of refined sugar and unhealthy fats to a significant increase in type 2 diabetes.
Unfortunately, getting proper nutrition can be challenging, especially since your diet may be one of the factors leading to a Type 2 diagnosis. Thankfully, Diet-to-Go can help with eating problems! Our Balanced Diabetes Menu is designed to help you control your blood sugar naturally with meals like:
- Calorie control and nutritional balance
- Heart Healthy – Control Sodium, Carbs, Fat and Cholesterol
Actually, U.S. News & World Report Putting us on the list of the best diabetes meal delivery services of 2023 says our “Balanced Diabetes Plan…is designed for people who have diabetes or prediabetes and use food to help manage their condition. It’s suitable for most diabetics and Follow standard recommendations from the American Diabetes Association.”
If you know you want to eat better but aren’t sure where to start, many of our clients have successfully lost weight* and controlled diabetes with our eating plans.
Exercise regularly (especially in the afternoon)
Activity helps everyone, but if you want to better manage type 2 diabetes, you really need to make it an important part of your life.
While 20-30 minutes (or more!) of fitness at any time of day is a good idea, you may be one of the many people who find it nearly impossible to fit in a workout on a busy morning.
This might be better than you realize. In fact, a recent study published in Diabetes Care found that exercise in the afternoon had the most significant effect on controlling blood sugar levels. Additionally, the researchers found that among 2,400 study participants—people who were considered overweight or obese and had type 2 diabetes—those who regularly exercised in the afternoon were also more likely to stop taking their medications.
So if you don’t feel like waking up at the crack of dawn to work out, that’s okay. Here are some fun afternoon exercise ideas that are perfect for after get off work or in the early evening:
- one hour walk: Choose a different trail or park and make it a priority to go at least four days a week. Turning it into a meditative walk has the added benefit of helping you manage stress, another important lifestyle factor for people with type 2 diabetes. If you go after get off work, you can use your time to miss the rush hour!
- Sign up for an evening fitness class: Whether it’s yoga, biking, dancing or kickboxing, you’re likely to be in good company at one of the many evening fitness classes. Most fitness classes tend to be busier in the evenings, allowing you to make new friends and stay motivated!
- Do water activities: If you live near a lake or reservoir and the weather cooperates, activities like kayaking, paddleboarding, wakeboarding, canoeing, or swimming are an exciting, fun way to get fit – and usually you No need to even think about it!
- Open YouTube videos at home: Whether you’re just walking in the door after a day at the office or turning off the computer in your home office, YouTube video workouts are a great way to wind down and transition from work mode to relaxation mode.
Need more inspiration? You can find lots of other fitness ideas and insights in the Exercise Tips section of our blog.
As you take steps to improve your eating and exercise habits, you may find that the effects of diabetes gradually lessen. Be sure to schedule regular checkups with your doctor and learn how to track your A1c levels. You should also control your stress levels, avoid nicotine products, and limit alcohol consumption.
With a positive mindset and determination, you can make these high-priority tasks a part of your life and likely see your health improve as a result!
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Author: Caitlin H
Food community manager
Caitlin is the Diet-to-Go community manager and an avid runner. She is passionate about connecting with others online and maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. She believes moderation is key and that people will have the greatest weight loss success if they practice common-sense healthy eating and fitness.