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DIABETES IS a chronic condition that affects millions worldwide, where the body’s inability to regulate blood glucose levels leads to various health complications. In naturopathic medicine, a holistic approach to diabetes management emphasises the significance of nutrition and regular exercise as key elements in a comprehensive treatment plan.
For someone with diabetes, managing nutrition is a vital part of caring for your overall health. Healthy eating for diabetes management should be in your daily routine.
According to Dr Orlando Thomas, medical doctor and functional medicine practitioner at Thomas Medical and Shockwave Centre in Old Harbour, St Catherine, finding the right balance between eating well and managing your blood sugar levels can be difficult, and this challenge can overwhelm anyone.
“Eating the correct type of food in the right quantities helps keep your blood glucose levels within an acceptable range. A balanced diet can also help avoid weight gain, which can be a significant risk factor for developing complications from diabetes,” Dr Thomas said.
“Daily meals provide steady energy that helps manage the disease and offers maximum nutrition. Additionally, eating foods high in vitamins and minerals can help to prevent or delay the onset of complications from diabetes,” he added.
A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins can benefit a person with diabetes. At the same time, a person with diabetes may need to limit their intake of white bread, sweets, and other highly refined foods.
Both sugary and starchy carbohydrates can raise blood sugar. But these foods, in the right amounts, can play a role in a balanced meal plan. The right amount and type of carbohydrates can depend on many factors, including a person’s activity level and medications, such as insulin.
For people who have diabetes or almost any other disease for that matter, the benefits of exercise cannot be overstated. Exercise helps control weight, lower blood pressure, lower harmful LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, raise healthy HDL cholesterol, strengthen muscles and bones, reduce anxiety, and improve your general well-being.
“There are added benefits for people with diabetes: exercise lowers blood glucose levels and boosts your body’s sensitivity to insulin, countering insulin resistance. Exercise is a natural treatment that does work for diabetes. It can control your weight and lower blood sugar, and it is free. Just about any exercise is helpful, but particularly aerobic exercises. These include walking, bicycling, and dancing,” Dr Thomas said.
A healthy gut can help manage diabetes by regulating blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity. According to Dr Thomas a diet high in fibre, low in sugar, and rich in fermented foods can help promote a healthy gut microbiome. You can try eating a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fermented foods like yogurt.
Probiotics, he said, are live bacteria that can help restore the balance of bacteria in your gut. Prebiotics provide food for beneficial bacteria to grow.
Stress, he said, can impact the gut microbiome, so try to find ways to manage stress, such as relaxation techniques, social support, self-care and professional support.
English (US) ·