8 Ways to Live Longer and Better with Diabetes

Whether you have prediabetes or diabetes you can look forward to as long and as happy a life as anyone. But that’s true only as long as you keep your blood glucose level down to normal. (All images credit: Thinkstock)

Some people will tell you that your diabetes will inevitably get progressively worse. Not true! But it certainly will get progressively worse if your blood glucose level stays above normal. Well managed diabetes doesn’t cause complications.

Normal blood glucose levels are those between 4.6 and 6.0 as measured by A1C tests. Your goal needs to be complete remission of your disease, which means an A1C level of 5.6 or less for a year or more without having to take any diabetes drugs or other treatment.

Ever since 1981, when the glycemic index was formulated, we have known which foods spike our blood glucose the most. These are the foods that have the most carbohydrates in them, particularly one type of carbohydrate, starch. Of the common foods tested for their glycemic index, baked potatoes cause the biggest spikes. Wheat – and anything made from it – and rice are also really dangerous.

Use your blood glucose meter, test strips, a lancing device, and lancets to check your blood glucose after you eat. Test exactly 2 hours after the first bite of your meal. If your level is above 120 mg/dl, it’s too high. That can teach you need to avoid or minimize those foods from then on.

If your test shows you that you ate too much high glycemic food, you need to bring your blood glucose level back to normal as soon as possible. For most people the best way to do this is to take a brisk walk. But if you happen to have a prescription from your doctor for a bolus insulin, taking the right amount of it can help too.

When you accept the challenge of managing your diabetes with the very low-carb lifestyle, you can also more easily lose the weight that most people need to do. When you succeed, you will also be generally healthier and happier than before.

The sooner you take action to make sure that your blood glucose level is normal the better your life will be. Why wait?