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You are here: Home / Self Help / Fitness / How to Prevent Diabetes: Making Healthy Life Choices

How to Prevent Diabetes: Making Healthy Life Choices

April 26, 2010 by Joi 35 Comments

Book links are usually affiliate links. This means I earn a small percentage when you click through and buy the book. This costs you nothing extra - it simply allows me to keep my cats in the lifestyle they're accustomed to.

My husband’s older brother was recently diagnosed with diabetes.  Diabetes is a word that, for me, conjures up an image of an ogre.  An huge, ugly, angry ogre.  My mom battled diabetes for years and I saw, first hand, just how relentless this disease can be.  I honestly admire diabetics because they fight a daily battle that most of us (hopefully.. prayerfully…) will never have to suit up for.

My mom, like many diabetics, got the worse end of the deal:  Being diagnosed later in life.  Personally, I think this makes the whole fight nastier.  She, like my brother-in-law, was quite accustomed to strawberry shortcake, cokes, banana pudding and other lovelies we take for granted.  When you’re diagnosed as an adult, you have to stop right in the middle of the road and completely change directions.  The ogre stands in the way that you want to go – like a roadblock.  And if you try to sneak past him, you’re going to pay.

My poor, hard-headed little mother (with a head-full of sweet teeth) tried to sneak past him often.  The toll it took on her health ultimately led to heart disease, many hospital visits, and even a stint.  In the end, she died far, far, far, far too young.

So, yeah, I’ll always hate diabetes and heart disease with a cruel, unChristian passion. (Hence the many articles on Self Help Daily about heart health, healthy eating, and creating a healthy lifestyle.  The fight? It’s on!)

“Exercise: You don’t have time not to.”
– Author unknown

My brother-in-law’s diagnosis has reignited the flames of hatred for this disease and made me realize that we all need to keep this ogre (Diabetes) in mind when we go about our daily lives – making choices that directly affect our health and, thereby, the lives of everyone we love.

A few facts from Shop to Stop Diabetes.org:

  • Diabetes kills more Americans every year than breast cancer and AIDS combined.
  • It’s the #1 cause of blindness in adults.
  • It doubles the risk of heart attack & stroke.
  • 1 in 3 American children born today will develop diabetes if current trends continue.
  • In the next 24 hours, 4,320 new cases of diabetes will be diagnosed.
  • 1 in 4 Americans who have diabetes don’t know it.

Ogre.

Fortunately, there are actually things we can do to keep the ogre from showing up on our doorstep.  As the Crucifix sends Count Dracula on his way, there are things we can do and things we can avoid that’ll send Diabetes crawling back into its corner.

“Did you ever stop to taste a carrot? Not just eat it, but taste it? You can’t taste the beauty and energy of the earth in a Twinkie.”
– Astrid Alauda

The American Diabetes Association and WebMD Provide A Wealth of Information Including:

  1. The larger your waist, the higher your risk of developing diabetes.   People with “Apple” shapes (more fat around your middle than around your hips) are at a higher risk than “Pear” shapes (more fat around your hips and backside).  All experts agree, getting in shape and maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most important steps to take for preventing diabetes.
  2. Watch how much you eat.  We’ve become a society of big eaters – we eat often and we eat a great deal.  Watch your portion sizes and eat to live, not live to eat.
  3. Get plenty of exercise.  Couch potatoes are ripe for trouble!  Be sure you get at least 30 minutes of activity at least 5 times a week.
  4. Address any health problems you have asap. If you’re overweight, lose the extra pounds.  If you have high blood pressure, see a doctor. Use common sense and take control of your health and your life.

“When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no ‘I’ll start tomorrow.’  Tomorrow is disease.” – Terri Guillemets

From WebMD.com: “A study done by the Harvard School of Public Health and published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that being overweight and obese was the single most important risk factor that predicted who would develop type 2 diabetes. During a 16 year follow-up period, study results showed that regular exercise — at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week — and an improved diet that’s low in fat and high in fiber significantly helped with type 2 diabetes prevention. The bottom line: type 2 diabetes prevention could be as easy as adopting healthy lifestyle habits.”  – Preventing Type 2 Diabetes, WebMD.com (Click the link to learn more!)

Also…

  • According to Medical News Today, broccoli may helpful in diabetes prevention. Broccoli contains phytonutrients — compounds that may help prevent diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.

The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they’ll ease
Your will they’ll mend
And charge you not a shilling.
– Nursery rhyme quoted by Wayne Fields, What the River Knows, 1990

Learn more about the causes and symptoms of diabetes at EverydayHealth.com

Filed Under: Fitness, Health Tagged With: Fitness, health, prevent diabetes

Previous Post: « Protect Your Hearing as You Improve Your Heart’s Health
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amber says

    April 29, 2010 at 7:52 pm

    Diabetes is reaching epic proportions – this post is so timely. I’m also including a link I found in another blog, that talks about nutrition and energy; I know we often eat foods that stress our insulin production in order to get an energy boost, so I thought it might be helpful. http://energyandmotivation.com/

  2. Bob says

    May 7, 2010 at 9:21 am

    Every Other Day Diet is a reliable weight loss system you can count on! It is inexpensive, effective, and even has its own diet generator and more. This is one of the most comprehensive!

  3. Our Healthier Living says

    May 12, 2010 at 7:44 am

    Very interesting topics.I am looking this type of topics, I need more informations because everyone knows “Health is wealth” is very much known to all and everyone wants good health.That means no one wants to leave this wealth. So, Let us build a food habit discipline, keep pace with work, rest and or exercise to Achieve good health, The ultimate wealth.
    .-= Our Healthier Living´s last blog ..Long Term Prescription Drug Addiction Recovery =-.

  4. Diabetes Blog says

    May 12, 2010 at 9:19 am

    Hi, I’m a diabetic with type 2, blogging about diabetes also. I’m exercising everyday to do the best of the situation.

  5. Alex says

    May 13, 2010 at 9:46 am

    I recommend is following the very simple and effective Day Off Diet Online Diet Guide in order to burn fat off your body and The 7 Minute Muscle Online Muscle Building Guide so that you can build a lot of muscle very quickly!

  6. Alternative Health Products says

    July 14, 2010 at 11:29 am

    Exercise and a healthy diet can help you reverse type 2 diabete. My best friend was diagnosed with type 2 diabete 5 years ago. She followed the diet her doctor gave her (she had to weigh all her meals) and she walked everyday at least 45 minutes. She lost at the same time 50 pounds. Now her blood sugar is back to normal, but she keeps on a healthy lifestyle. The advices you give in this post are excellent and prevention is better than cure.

  7. Andy says

    August 16, 2010 at 7:56 pm

    Everybody needs to understand that prevention is better than cure. Great post.

  8. Natural Cures for Diabetes says

    September 22, 2010 at 3:04 am

    My late grandmother suffered from diabetes too. You are right, it is a condition where the diabetic has to change their lifestyle drastically. The sad part is that some of them get really frustrated with these strict lifestyle changes yet not seeing a good glucose control.
    Additional help from natural cures can make it so much more palatable for the diabetic.

  9. Ria @ Organic Acai Berry says

    November 23, 2010 at 9:20 am

    My great grandmother had diabetes, so did my father-in-law. Its really hard for them to enjoy dinners and parties when they had to resist certain foods which they used to love. Right now, I’m really taking notice of what my children eat since they are at risk, given the family history. I’m also educating them regarding the disease and how to chose to eat healthy foods. I’m glad that brocolli has been found to help prevent this, they love this vegetable.

  10. James says

    December 31, 2010 at 5:00 am

    So glad I found your site and can contribute. I am looking to cure diabetes through a raw food diet. Since eating this way (raw and vegan) I’ve lost 25 lbs. and gotten off my diabetes medicine. Everyday I exercise and carefully monitor my blood, as well as nutrition. It can certainly be controlled with diet and exercise, but an actual cure is going to take more work and research!

    Have a healthy day!

  11. Connie.. The Weigt loss Reviews Gal says

    January 8, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    I am very concerned about diabetes, especially type 2 as it runs in my family. Your best defense about type 2 diabetes is healthy eating and exercise. Many people who have diabetes can reverse it, if it is type 2. Diabetes is a killer and should not be taken likely. Both my Grandmother and mother have it and am hoping no one else in my family will get it. Be good to your body, it is the only one we have.

  12. Jenny says

    March 22, 2011 at 4:42 am

    In diabetes every person need to take proper care of his health because it comes very slow but it is not so easy to remove diabetes from blood. One of my close relative is face the problem of diabetes and now his is taking proper diet and doing every day exercise.

  13. Jake says

    March 26, 2011 at 7:25 am

    One of the best ways how to prevent diabetes is to get rid of excess body weight, which is one of the reasons why diabetes are caused.

    People also have to eat food such as broccoli, because as you said they may be helpful in diabetes prevention

  14. losing weight fast says

    March 31, 2011 at 5:59 am

    I think Diabetes Is a Really common Disease Now A Days! Any Way Nice And well Written Post!

  15. Alison says

    April 30, 2011 at 6:29 am

    Hey, sorry to hear about the problems with diabetes in your family…

    Just as a watch-out: you really need to start taking great care yourself, as you are at quite high risk given such a family history with the disease. I hope you will have nothing to worry about, though!

  16. joi says

    May 2, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    Alison, thanks for the kind words – you are exactly right. I know I need to pay closer attention to what I eat and drink. Hey, it’s a Monday – sounds like a perfect time to kick it up a notch!

  17. Drupal Theming says

    May 3, 2011 at 2:10 am

    Thank you for your thoughtful post! Nice blog.

  18. Jaeny @ Wheat and Dairy Free Diet says

    May 12, 2011 at 5:37 am

    Diabetes is indeed one of the worst killers in the world today. Heart disease runs in my family and I’ve seen my aunt in her worst days because of that. But that has also pushed me and my mom to live a healthier lifestyle bit by bit. Hopefully, diabetes would stay far far away so we won’t have to face the ogre. Do take care of yourself too, sometimes, we have to work double time, because of the mere fact that it runs in the genes.

  19. FitnessDave says

    October 18, 2013 at 6:11 pm

    I know way too many people who have been diagnosed with diabetes, and it’s sad that they didn’t know better to prevent it. Diebetes is preventable, yet it affects so many people that everybody knows someone who has diabetes now. It’s very common.. but hey, the number one killer in America is heart disease and that is completely preventable as well. I think it’s all about diet and lifestyle choices like avoiding cigarette smoke and choosign to exercise everyday.

  20. Fine Eats Whiz says

    October 22, 2013 at 4:45 pm

    We really need to get this message to catch on. Diabetes can be controlled and prevented through diet alone! Find out more because it is the easiest way.

  21. Samuel Albert says

    December 19, 2013 at 8:50 am

    We all wish there was another way to preventing diabetes other than lifestyle changes. We are accustomed to physical inactivity and eating of junk foods that we don’t see the dangers. We like to think that we are the exception and we will get away with an unhealthy lifestyle. Unfortunately for the vast majority, there is no getting away from bad habits.

  22. Bryan @ Medicine for Diabetes says

    September 10, 2014 at 1:17 am

    This is a great article. I’ve been looking for one of these for my study on the cases for diabetic. And i guess making the right and healthy choice – it is still a big factor.

  23. Ianna @ TGP says

    September 12, 2014 at 3:42 am

    This is a good list of yours that will help diabetes people like me. I am at the pre-diabetes stage of diabetes that’s why it will help me manage what I eat. Thank you for sharing these tips.

  24. Anifeja says

    October 15, 2014 at 3:48 pm

    Nice tips.I would also add that we should eat less od sugar and HCFS.

  25. type 2 diabetes Passaic County NJ says

    February 18, 2015 at 2:17 am

    It surely is cheaper for a preventative care. The amount of expense you can save and the condition you can prevent to worsen. It really is a good thing.

  26. Passaic County NJ type 2 diabetes treatment says

    February 26, 2015 at 12:38 am

    Prevention is better than cure as they say, and being able to catch up while on early stages is so assuring.

  27. Essex County NJ type 2 diabetes treatment says

    March 11, 2015 at 3:26 am

    Oh. Having a health care is really sometimes hard. Preventative Health care is much better, You can save a lot and you can always be sure your in good condition.

  28. Julieanne Hernandez says

    May 11, 2015 at 11:32 pm

    My mom had diabetes before, and my dad was recently diagnosed with diabetes too. So I’ve been searching for pieces of information about diabetes, from symptoms up to the medicine needed to cure it. Thank you for sharing this article!

  29. Joi says

    May 13, 2015 at 11:04 am

    Julieanne, You’re more than welcome! I keep researching the disease for my daughters as well as myself – since my mom had it, I know just how devastating the disease is. Pretty scary, actually. More and more strides are being made medically but a lot has to do with what we eat and how much activity we get. All I know is I want to do everything I can to prevent my girls or myself from getting it. I hope your dad handles his new diagnosis well – it has to be tough to be diagnosed with something when you’re an adult, something that’ll essentially change just about everything you have to do or get to do. Good thing he has a loving daughter on his team!

  30. jocelyn says

    May 31, 2015 at 9:53 am

    This statement really made me smile (and laugh): “I’ll always hate diabetes and heart disease with a cruel, unChristian passion.” It’s true, we need to hate diabetes and all the risk factors that pave the way to its development.

  31. Elle Salazar says

    June 26, 2015 at 3:02 am

    Had a random conversation with an old man yesterday. He happens diagnosed with stage 1 prostate cancer and has been surviving even without chemotherapy. One of his friends whom he shared doctors with was a teenage diabetic. Both of them weren’t given pharmaceutical medicine but some was suggested a steady diet of root plants and some food supplements. The conversation and this post made me think out of my 21 years of existence that I have to eat well and exercise. Thanks selfhelpdaily!

  32. Brenda says

    October 4, 2015 at 1:01 am

    Great Tips for preventing diabetes, also diabetes can be reversed and get to the cure, but few people know this, you need to eat the right foods do exercises …

  33. Brenda says

    October 24, 2015 at 12:12 am

    Surely prevention is the best cure for any disease, but one thing that many do not know is that diabetes is controllable and has even possible to have healing, but that is kept secret by the pharmaceutical industries.

  34. Stephen Juarez says

    November 24, 2015 at 12:32 am

    There’s a very popular celebrity here in the Philippines that has been consistently active for several decades now. Gary Valenciano has been diagnosed for Diabetes since he was a tenager, and up to this day he looks a lot younger than his cohorts. He projects an extremely huge amount of energy when he performs too.

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