Top Five Tips to Help Manage Your Diabetes

A study  released in The Journal of Biological Chemistry and reported on at LifeExtension.com discussed how researchers out of Washington University in St. Louis wanted to test the effect of vitamin D and its role in decreasing atherosclerosis, or the hardening of the arteries, in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study could be significant for diabetes sufferers.

The study contained 43 subjects with type 2 diabetes and another 25 that was a control group. They performed blood tests and studied a number of health factors. What they found was that the patients who had sufficient levels of vitamin D had a lower risk of developing the cells that promote stickiness in the arteries that can lead to plaque buildup. Dr. Amy Riek, lead author of the study, concluded that, “we took everything into account. We looked at blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes control, body weight and race. But only vitamin D levels correlated to whether these cells stuck to the vessel wall.”

She further stated that this study may help them develop treatments for diabetic patients. It may even lead to new medicines that incorporate vitamin D to combat vitamin D deficiencies in patients.

In practical terms, what this study suggests is that everyone, especially those with diabetes, should be mindful of getting all the needed vitamins and minerals. We suggest that you talk to your personal physician to ensure you are getting the proper amounts of vitamin D and other vitamin levels for your specific health needs.

Our top five tips to help manage your diabetes are:

1. Healthy Diet — make sure you are eating a healthy diet. We suggest that you also speak with a registered dietician who can help you develop an appropriate eating plan that is individualized for you.
2. Exercise — It is important that diabetic patients stay active and heart healthy. You should get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at least five days a week.
3. Lose Weight — eating a healthy diet and exercise will be extremely helpful in managing weight, but make sure you stay in appropriate weight ranges and make sure you do not carry around extra weight in the belly area.
4. Monitor Glucose Levels — diabetic patients should be vigilant on monitoring glucose levels and be aware of any unhealthy spikes or drops.
5. Regular Check-ups — make sure you go to all recommended regular check-ups with your personal physician. Most importantly, listen to your physician’s advice as uncontrolled diabetes can lead to other significant health problems.

Interested in reading more? Check out our Top Five Reasons People Exercise