Are you a Diabetic?

by Elaine Kennedy

Being a diabetic can be hard to deal with. Whether you were diagnosed years ago or just a few days or weeks ago, it can be difficult to deal with. There are groups online and offline that can offer you support during this rough time. You don’t have to go at it alone and you shouldn’t.

The American Diabetic Association says 20.8 million children and adults have diabetes, but sadly 6.2 million people are unaware that they have the disease. The ADA also says that diabetes is a mystery. What they do know is it has to do with genetics, obesity, and lack of exercise. Because diabetes can be deadly, it is not something you want to mess with. You need to educate yourself regarding this disease.

A lot of times diabetes goes undetected because the systems seem to be harmless or may be considered something else. Below are some of the most common symptoms.
• Frequent urination • Excessive thirst • Extreme hunger • Increased fatigue If you have one or more of these symptoms, you need to contact your doctor for an appointment right away. You may not have diabetes, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
If you are overweight, losing the weight can be a challenge. When you have diabetes and are overweight, it is an even bigger challenge. When you are diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor will give you ideas that will help you lose weight, keep your diabetes under control, and stay healthy. You can also go to the library or book store to get books that have ideas on weight loss as a diabetic.

When you decide you need to lose weight remember, it will be hard to do, but it will be worth it in the long run. This is where a group or friend will come in handy. They will be able to help you get started, keep you up when you are losing weight, and help you stay up when you are not doing so well with the weight loss. As a diabetic, you have to be careful what you eat and how much you eat. Just because you need to lose weight doesn’t mean you have to go on a diet. It doesn’t mean you have to stop eating out and it doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite foods.

Exercise may be all you need to help you lose weight. Exercise can be as simple as working in the yard or walking your dog to the end of the block and back a couple of times. Joining a gym may be too expensive or not something you want to do. That’s ok because you can go to the mall or super center and walk around for 30 minutes and that would give you something to do as well.
Diabetes doesn’t have to control your life. All you have to do is eat right, monitor your blood sugar, and exercise right and you will be able to control it. Make sure you visit your doctor regularly and you can manage your diabetes easily and confidently.

About the Author
Elaine Kennedy and her husband have three wonderful children. She has been a work at home mom since 2005. She is a licensed financial debt analyst and she also enjoys helping others with their health and losing weight. If you want to help her reach out to others, visit her site at http://www.chocolateforlife.biz/. You can also check out the chocolate that will help you lose weight and stay healthy at http://mxi.myvoffice.com/elainekennedy/.