Getting Healthy When You Have Diabetes

More people who are carrying a few extra pounds are being diagnosed with diabetes and required to take medication as part of their treatment. And while these people generally know they should lose weight and more conscientiously, they may not realize that time is of the essence.

The bottom line is, if you're one of these people, you could die before you get around to getting on a diet.

The sobering facts are that people with diabetes are two to four times more likely than those without the disease to have a heart attack. Worse, a heart attack for someone with diabetes is more likely to be deadly. The most common long-term complication of diabetes is cardiovascular disease, which according to researchers at the Mayo Clinic, accounts for 65% of all diabetes-related deaths.

“We all like to be slim, but that’s not the only reason to start taking care of your diabetes,” says Nan Allison, MS, RD, LDN, of Allison Nutrition Counseling in Nashville, Tennessee. “The sooner you start taking care of your needs, the sooner you’ll cut your risk of serious complications.”

Here are Allison’s “don’t wait” tips for getting healthy when you have diabetes:

See a registered dietitian. If you have tried to lose weight or change your habits before without success, it is important that you partner with someone who specializes in nutrition counseling. Find someone who can work with you as an individual, considering your emotional and lifestyle issues, as well as nutrition strategies.
Keep a record of what you eat and how you feel. Meals should be satisfying for a few hours. If you are chronically hungry, you can assume that your nutrition needs are not being met.
Don't use weight as your only marker of progress. Pay attention to the progress you make learning new strategies and celebrate the positive changes in your behavior and attitude. Go by how you feel physically and emotionally and by how well you notice and respond to your needs.
Take responsibility and plan ahead. Decide each evening how and what you want to eat the next day.

— Michele Deppe