Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with diabetes or you’ve been living with diabetes for years, you must be living a healthy lifestyle to prevent possible complications that come along with having diabetes. Fortunately, with the right general medicine doctor on your side, we can help you gain control over your diabetes and help you live a full, healthy life. Here are some things you can start doing to improve your health with diabetes.

Say “Yes” to a Healthy Diet

Your diet is one of the most important factors when it comes to maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. Your doctor can talk to you about the do’s and don’ts of a diabetic-friendly diet or recommend a dietitian that can also work with you to create meal plans. Your diet should be high in fiber, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains while avoiding foods that are high in fat, sugar, and salt.

Start Exercising Regularly

Exercise is one of the easiest ways to help those with diabetes keep weight and blood sugar down while improving the health and function of the heart and lungs. Plus, exercise can help you combat fatigue and boost energy levels (something that we know our diabetic patients deal with regularly).

Everyone should get at least 30 minutes of moderately intense aerobic exercise every day. This includes everything from housework to biking or swimming. If you’re new to working out, you must consult your general medical doctor to discuss safe ways to start incorporating exercise into your routine.

Take Your Medication Every Day

You must be taking your diabetes medication exactly as instructed by your general medicine physician. You should also be monitoring your blood sugar every day to make sure that the medication is working. It may take some trial and error to figure out the right medication to keep your blood sugar in check, so you must be monitoring your blood sugar and visiting your doctor if levels don’t improve.

If you have questions about your diabetes, current diabetes treatment, or your lifestyle, your general medicine physician is always here to answer your questions and make sure that you are on a healthy path.