If not properly managed, diabetes can become a very serious and even fatal medical condition. Some of the most common long-term medical effects from diabetes include blindness, strokes and heart attacks. Although there is currently not a cure for diabetes, ADU Online Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree professionals say that there are several natural ways you can manage this chronic disease.
According to medical researchers, if Americans current pattern of nutrition and diet continues, by the year 2020 over 75% of men and over 50% of women will either be pre-diabetic, or will be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
Fortunately, there are several natural ways that you can avoid becoming a part of the statistic.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Your body undergoes major internal repairs while you are sleeping. Your immune system is boosted, the circulatory system is maintained and new cells are created while older ones are filtered out of your body. This means that your body is depending on you to get proper rest.
Aim to get between 6 or 7 hours of sleep every night. Numerous studies have shown that those who get less than 6 hours of sleep have an increased risk of developing diabetes. This is even more applicable to individuals who have a genetic disposition to getting the disease.
Get Out in the Sun
Just as important as sleep is, it is also important that you get outside every day. The sun is a natural source of vitamin D, and scientists have observed that people who spend at least 15 minutes each day outside reduce their risk of getting diabetes.
Simply walking outside a few days a week for around 10 minutes will give you just as much exposure to vitamin D as taking a supplement.
Heal Your Gut to Heal Your Body & Brain
Get Rid of Stress
Although some stress is actually beneficial, too much can be harmful. One of the keys to saying good-bye to many chronic diseases including diabetes is learning how to relax. Do not feel guilty for putting yourself first for a change. Unless it is a life-threatening crisis, it can wait a few more minutes for you to deal with it.
Get a massage, dance to your favorite song or even start a yoga practice to reduce the effects of long-term stress.
Damaged blood vessels, adrenal fatigue and hormonal imbalance can all be caused by high stress levels so begin to find ways to reduce stress in your life.
Get Active
Start incorporating exercise into your daily routine. Consider joining a yoga class or going to the gym to lose excess body fat while building lean muscle. Begin by doing a 30 minute cardio routine five days a week, and then add strength training in one or two days a week.
You can choose a cardio activity as simple as walking. It is easy on the joints and you can gradually increase your time. If you are already fairly active, consider other activities like swimming, dancing or jogging.
Many people find that trying to manage diabetes is challenging. However, by following these tips, you can make it more manageable for your situation and even possibly prevent the onset of the disease.