Managing Diabetes
Selam Habesha Health Family! We know getting diagnosed with Diabetes can be quite overwhelming and requires a lifestyle change. On our last meeting with Jerusalem Makonnen FNP-BC and Mahedere Solomon FNP-C moderated by Samson Mael, MHA, we learned about a variety of ways to adjust one’s lifestyle to accommodate for living with Diabetes.
Having a healthy diet is a huge part of managing Diabetes and can influence your wellbeing. Maintaining a diet that is low in carbs and fats and high in protein and vegetables is a great foundation for a nutritious diet. As mentioned by Mahedere during the talk, “Always have carbs through some protein so when your body metabolizes that if the blood sugar doesn't rise as high because, again, the proteins will give us energy for longer without raising the blood sugar.” In addition to diet, maintaining an active lifestyle is also vital in controlling insulin and blood sugar levels. There are a number of activities that will help us get in action such as a brisk walk with neighbors/ friends/ church members, a little eskista, and other moderate to vigorous exercise.
Although some people can control their blood sugar levels with healthy eating and exercise, others may need medication or insulin to help manage it. Monitoring your blood sugars can help you understand what is working with your lifestyle and what might not be working.
Medication can prevent poor outcomes of diabetes. Taking the time to learn about the medication and its side effects can assist you in getting your blood sugars where they need to be. Our speakers heavily emphasized discussing your options with your provider and asking questions so you can make an informed decision.
Also, stress levels and mental well-being can be detrimental to one’s Diabetes journey. Having a healthy outlet to relieve stress is imperative to one’s wellness. Jerusalem explains how chronic stress causes high cortisol levels that in turn produce glucose, leading to increased blood sugar levels. Diabetes is a lifetime journey that can be controlled and maintained through living a healthy lifestyle.
We would like to invite you all to watch our two-part diabetes series and share it with your family and friends!
-Blog Contributions by Ruta Tesfay, MPH, CAPM
