November 1, 2020

There are two areas that are important when trying to decrease your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.

First, stay active. A sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor.  When we think about staying active, it doesn’t have to be joining a gym or running a marathon (although those would be fine). The Centers for Disease Control recommends 2 ½ hours of aerobic activity each week, but don’t be too worried about the time you spend exercising, just get moving! Start with short walks a couple times a week. When you are comfortable, start increasing the number of times you go out, the distance and the speed. You will be amazed at how quickly you can adapt.

The second area of focus should be your eating habits. Obesity is another major risk factor. Start by evaluating your current habits. How often do you eat fast food? How many sugary drinks do you have in a week? Once you acknowledge your current habits, you can work on changing them. The easiest place to start is cutting down on those sugary drinks. Next, cut back on the fast food. You should be able to cut your number of visits in half very quickly. So how do you replace all those meals? Easy; cook at home! Here are a few general tips to follow: When you visit the grocery store, spend most of your time on the outside aisles. That’s usually where all the fresh foods are displayed. Remember to eat foods as close to their natural form as possible. Frozen pizza doesn’t grow on a tree or come from a plant!

At times, we all deviate from good habits to indulge. That’s okay, as long as your good habits are your standard.