Five Lifestyle Changes that Make a Big Difference
While there are many lifestyle habits that can aid in managing Type 2 diabetes, focusing on these five basics is a great place to start.
3. Maintain a healthy weight
Maintaining a healthy weight not only helps to lower blood sugar, but also may help to lower blood pressure and cholesterol just as exercise does. It is important to have ongoing support to achieve or maintain your individual weight goals. Talk with your doctor or a registered dietitian to help you identify an approach that meets your specific needs.
4. Limit alcohol intake
For people with diabetes, there are risks associated with drinking alcohol. Alcohol can lower blood sugar which can cause hypoglycemia. It can also interact with some medications, including diabetes medications. These risks can be prevented by avoiding alcohol altogether. However, if you do choose to drink alcohol, discuss with your healthcare team how and when it may be consumed to minimize these risks. The current recommendation is for no more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women.
5. Set a quit date
If you are a smoker with diabetes, you are at a high risk for having a heart attack or stroke. Quitting smoking has major benefits to your health and is the number one preventable cause of death. If you smoke and would like to quit, talk to your Wegmans pharmacist or your doctor about different options we have to help.