Disclaimer: The following article was written by Brooke Chaplan / Freelance Writer
Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States, and cases of diabetes are on the rise. According to the American Diabetes Association, a staggering 9.3% of the population had been diagnosed with diabetes in 2012. That number was up from 8.3% in 2010. If you want to shield yourself and your family from this debilitating disease, the battle begins at home. By teaching your family good eating habits and how to live a healthy lifestyle, you can give them the tools they need to stay diabetes free.
Learn What a Healthy Diet Looks Like
When trying to change your diet, don’t go overboard and make things too complicated. Try to stick with whole, unprocessed foods, and watch your intake of fats, sugar and sodium. Don’t drastically change your lifestyle, and eliminate any food types altogether. Instead, enjoy all foods in moderation, and try to establish a balance in what you eat. For example, if you had bread in the morning with your breakfast, you might want to avoid having bread for lunch. Instead, plan on having a beautiful salad full of protein, veggies and fruits. When planning meals at home with your family, try to apply these same concepts. Also, be sure there are plenty of healthy snacks to choose from for both the kids and you.
Get Moving
If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, you will greatly increase your risk of developing diabetes. Make sure to get plenty of exercise every single day. To keep your motivation going, try to find something you and your family can all do together. Go to the park, or ride bikes together everyday. By finding activities you enjoy doing, you will be more likely to do them more often.
If Diabetes Runs in Your Family
If you have a family history of diabetes, you are automatically at a greater risk of developing the disease, and will need to take extra precaution to ensure a healthy lifestyle. Talk to your doctor to understand the risk factors you and your family may have in developing diabetes. If anyone is overweight, it will be important to help that family member in any way possible to get to a healthy weight. Be sure everyone in the family receives an annual checkup with the doctor and learns for themselves what their risk factors will be.
The development of diabetes is a life-changing event that comes with many medical complications. Often, diabetes patients are plagued with eyesight issues that require special care, and even foot issues. According to an foot treatment doctor in a New Mexico Animas Foot & Ankle clinic, those with diabetes will often need support shoes if weight becomes an issue. If this is not the future you want for you and your family, be sure to be an example for your children and focus on a healthy lifestyle at home.
