Stay balanced: health and lifestyle tips to better manage diabetes

(ARA) - Diabetes affects more than 23 million people in the United States, with type 2 diabetes representing 90 to 95 percent of those cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But the good news is that people with type 2 diabetes can find balance in their lives with a structured plan that includes proper nutrition and regular exercise.

From families to careers to busy social lives, people with diabetes have to manage much more each day than just their condition. Finding time to make exercise, regularly scheduled meals and relaxation part of a daily routine can be a challenge. In fact, more than 55 percent of people with type 2 diabetes say their hectic schedules get in the way of their management plans, with 20 percent ranking it as their number one challenge, according to a recent survey by the International Diabetes Center (IDC) and Abbott.

"Diabetes shouldn't define the lives of people living with the condition," says Mother Love, author, TV personality and ambassador for the American Diabetes Association Research Foundation. "It's all about having the right tools for a successful diabetes management plan that will help them find balance for a healthier, better life."

Mother Love, who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1990, made smart nutrition and exercise changes, lost weight and learned to successfully manage her condition. She shares her tips on how to create a successful diabetes management plan:

* Build a team: Create a support team of healthcare professionals, friends and family that you can rely on to reach your health goals. Be sure to consult with your healthcare team to create a diabetes management plan that works for you and includes a balanced diet, exercise, blood-glucose monitoring and medication, if needed.

* Take control of your diet: Say goodbye to poor eating habits like empty-calorie midnight snacks or skipping breakfast and say hello to regularly scheduled, nutritious meals. Nearly half of people with diabetes say eating healthy is most difficult first thing in the morning or late at night, according to the IDC survey. When you're juggling a hectic schedule, nutrition products like Glucerna cereals, snack bars and shakes are a convenient food choice. They are great-tasting and specially formulated to help minimize blood sugar spikes, which can lower A1C levels when used as part of a diabetes management plan. Use Glucerna products under medical supervision.

* Get a move on: Being overweight is a major risk for diabetes, but according to the CDC, it can be prevented or delayed with moderate weight loss and exercise, so get off the couch and get moving. Whether it's swimming, walking or even doing vigorous housework, incorporate exercise into your daily routine. At least 30 minutes of activity, five to seven days a week, will help you get healthy and make the condition more manageable.

* Treat yourself well: Maintaining a balanced, harmonious lifestyle is a key to effectively managing diabetes. Stress is part of daily life for everyone, but too much can be harmful to a person with diabetes because it affects blood glucose levels. Set aside time each day to relax and do the things you enjoy. Write your thoughts in a journal, think of something funny, do yoga or get a massage - anything that will help you unwind.

Making smart, healthy lifestyle changes and adopting a positive mindset can help you find the balance necessary to live a healthier, fuller life. For more information about diabetes or how to create a management plan, consult your physician and visit glucerna.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent