The deadly sins for diabetics

Resolution time is coming! Hurrah!!!

Well maybe not “hurrah”, but it IS time to start thinking about how we can all make life better in the new year. It is always a worthy exercise to think about what can be improved. That alone is moving in the right direction, even if your resolution does not make it past January. Then what do you do? Try, try again.{{more}}

For people with diabetes, there are a few particularly bad habits that need to be minimized or cut out completely. For some, moderation is indeed the key. However for others, “just say no” is the best policy. We will go into more depth in future, but here is your snapshot to start those wheels turning in your head:

1) Gluttony – especially this time of year when the table overflows with too much of everything: too much ham, too much sweet potato pudding, too much black cake….Those of us who can have a bountiful table are indeed blessed and should be thankful. But it does not mean that you need to keep eating everything on the table. MODERATION is the key here.

2) Slothfulness – lack of exercise does you NO good, so get moving!!! There is so much research information that shows exercise, even without weight loss, helps your body and health in many ways. You sleep better. Your mood is better. You have lower overall risk of cancer in future. Then when you add the weight loss benefit, this is a jackpot waiting to be tapped. JUST SAY NO to slothfulness.

3) Smoking – JUST SAY NO. There is no way around this at all. There is absolutely NO benefit to smoking. Sure, it may help your anxiety, but why not try something else to control your anxiety and stress? Why pick something that harms you with every single puff? One of the most vexing episodes I can still remember involved overhearing a doctor say to someone that his father smoked all his life and was still alive and well. Imagine that! I was so stunned and angry I could not speak. DO NOT fall into that ridiculous trap. NO ONE who smokes is healthy. That is the short of it. Even if you feel fine and live to be a hundred, you are not healthy. Your lungs don’t work like they should, your heart has been poisoned and every vessel in your body has been affected.

You can see that smoking gets me all riled up, so just wait until I dedicate the whole column to it soon…

4) Being stubborn – I know many of you fall into this category. I am not blameless, stubbornness runs in both sides of my family. But when it comes to my health, I listen to what my doctor has to say, I read about it myself, and then get moving on something that has been shown to help me. Ignoring everything your doctor says is not wise and should not be done. If you do not trust your doctor, find another one. Ignoring a problem does not make it go away.

5) Ignorance – As a diabetic YOU hold the most control over what happens. You decide how to eat and when to take your medications. Therefore, you owe it to yourself to pay attention during visits to your doctor, ask questions, and read what you can. Education is the key here. Don’t hide under a rock.

Until next week, stay safe and healthy Vincies!

Anita Ramsetty, MD endodocs@endocrinehelp.com

Medical Director Endocrine Care Group

www.endocrinehelp.com

Tel: 843-798-4227