An ounce of prevention is always better than cure, particularly if diabetes
runs in your family. But this time, people need tons of prevention to keep
this chronic disease from further seeping into the mainstream not only of
the American society but also of societies all over the world.
Diabetes has become so widespread that the United States spends as much
as $100 billion a year for the healthcare of Americans with diabetes.
Millions of people all over the world have diabetes. The sad thing is most
of them do not know they have it until it is too late.
Diabetes is a devastating disease which can damage the vital organs of the
body including the kidneys, heart and the eyes. While diabetes does not
really kill people, it can result to more serious and complicated diseases.
Diabetes may not kill people as a general rule, but it makes them lose their
eyesight, and leads them to kidney and heart problems, and later on,
death.
People with diabetes can survive the diseases provided they practice proper
health care. Those who do not have the disease, but are in danger of
getting the disease due to heredity, can avoid getting the Big D through
proper nutrition.
Aside from heredity, the top cause of diabetes is improper diet. Modern
man's propensity for leading hectic lives has led them into eating the wrong
kinds of food. Man has become so obsessed with wealth creation and
pleasure, that he has no more time to prepare a well-balanced meal. Thus,
the modern man's diet consists of canned goods, processed fish, meat and
vegetables that can be eaten immediately by just popping it inside a
microwave. The modern world has convinced man to have a preference for
refined food, from sugar to grains.
Most people who are healthy all their lives are getting diabetes and the
culprit is the kind of food they eat, and our ignorance as to the nutrient
content of the food we eat.
But there are health-friendly foods that are available in the market, one
only has to learn how to recognize and eat them. It's just a matter of
changing our choice of food, like preferring whole grains over refined grains
such as brown rice, whole wheat bread and the likes. Eat more fruits and
vegetables and less meat, sweet and oily food. It also helps to read the
labels of processed food, to determine the amount of one's carbohydrate
intakes.
Most people shy away from eating right because of the misconception
about proper dieting. It is okay to eat certain kinds of food but you need to
know how to eat them properly like knowing the proper number of
servings, or the better way of cooking such food. If you find vegetables
boring, then be creative in your food preparation. Differently-colored
salads can encourage your good appetite.
If you can't resist oily food, then avoid going to fast food joints because
seeing french-fries hungry people will just make your saliva drop and will
make you forget you diet.
So how does one know that he already has diabetes? The common
symptoms are frequent urination, fatigue and being thirsty all the time.
Diabetes simply means too much glucose in your bloodstream. Too much
glucose in the body requires more water, thus making you feel thirsty most
of the time. With thirst comes an increased water intake, making urination
frequent.
The other symptoms of diabetes includes an increase or decrease in
weight, blurred vision, sores or wounds that are slow to heal and
sometimes lead to infections and tender gums.
Obesity makes one at a greater risk of getting diabetes so it is also
important to watch your weight. Those who have excess fat in the belly
are more prone to being health risks. Weight gain or about 10 to 20
pounds, no matter how moderate, can also make one a candidate for
diabetes.
Aside from eating the right food and watching one's weight, it is also good
to increase one's physical activity. It does not necessarily mean you have
to become a sportsman all of a sudden. Gardening, although a mild
physical activity, can help you relax and lose weight as well. Try ball
catching or ball kicks with your children, it is not only a good way to bond
but is also a way to lose those extra fats.
Eating is such a pleasure, particularly if you know how to eat right.
Preventing Diabetes By Eating Right 
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