Living With Diabetes

Live your life to the fullest by managing your type 2 diabetes.

You can do it! In addition to your prescription medications, there are lots of things you can do to improve the way your body handles blood sugars and cholesterol. Here are just a few:

Balanced meals

A bowl of pasta with homemade marinara sauce. A tasty lobster. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a big glass of milk. Do these favorite foods all go 'off-limits' just because you have diabetes? No way! It's easy to make a few simple substitutions to reduce fat and decrease calories—without losing the flavor!

• Consider using trans-fat-free vegetable oil spreads instead of butter to reduce the number of saturated fats you eat.
• Use canola oil rather than shortening or Crisco.
• Avoid refined carbohydrates, deep-fried foods, margarine, white flour, white rice, table sugar, high-fructose corn syrup and soft drinks. Choose whole wheat flours, brown rice, and artificial sweeteners–in moderation, of course.
• Eat more fish and lean meats (like chicken), eggs, low-fat cheese and nuts, and take fish oil or flax supplements.
• Increase your intake of green, leafy veggies and whole grains.
• Check out Type 2 Diabetes Nutritional Resources to learn where you can find delicious recipes and other nutrition tips for people with diabetes.

And yes, have that pasta with marinara sauce, only use vegetable or whole wheat pasta or have the peanut butter and jelly–just use whole wheat bread and go for the less fat and sugary versions of the peanut butter and jelly.

Regular exercise

Imagine this: It's a slightly overcast spring afternoon, and you just remembered that there is a street fair today. You pull on a comfortable, yet stylish pair of jogging pants, a cool t-shirt, slip on your favorite sneakers, and then head on over to town to see what's going on. But did you know you could turn this little trip into a chance to exercise?

Sometimes, exercise can happen when we aren't even trying! Take that trip to the street fair for example. Even just parking a few blocks away and walking briskly to the fair (instead of cruising around looking for the closest parking spot available) or doing a little window shopping along the way both 'count' as exercise. When it comes to physical activity, every little bit helps.

Other easy, everyday exercise tips to consider

Ever heard of 'mall walking'? It's a great way to get your exercise while scoping out what's new in your favorite shopping mall!

Grocery shopping – park as far away from the grocery store as you can. Coupled with pushing a full shopping cart and walking back and forth from the parking lot to the store all count as exercise.

Skip the elevator and take the stairs. It takes less than a minute (depending which floor your office is on, of course!) and the rewards are leaner, stronger legs and a healthy boost for your heart!