The most common diseases in the United States are heart disease, cancer, and stroke. These diseases account for more than half of all deaths in the country each year. Heart disease is the leading cause of death, followed by cancer and stroke. One particular common disease that tends to lead to all of these diseases is diabetes.
Diabetes in the U.S.
Diabetes is a common disease in the country. About 1 in 10 people have diabetes. Of these, about 1 in 4 don’t know they have it. Diabetes is a problem with your body that causes blood sugar to be too high.
There are different types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is when your pancreas doesn’t make insulin while Type 2 diabetes is when your body doesn’t make or use insulin well. If you have diabetes, you must watch your blood sugar levels and take care of your feet and skin. You also need to see your doctor regularly.
Diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and other problems. That’s why it’s essential to control blood sugar levels and to see your doctor regularly.
Causes of Diabetes
The cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. Type 2 diabetes is caused by a combination of things, including genetics and lifestyle choices. You’re more likely to get type 2 diabetes if you have these predisposing factors:
- Are overweight
- Don’t get enough physical activity
- Have prediabetes
- Have a family member with type 2 diabetes
However, when it comes to gestational diabetes, it only happens during pregnancy. So if you want to avoid diabetes, then you have options. The first is choosing the right diet for you.
Going on a Diet
One of the best ways to avoid diabetes is by going on a diet and reaching a healthy weight. You can generally do this by reducing your calorie count and consuming less sugar. You should also choose healthier ingredients in your food, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. If you don’t want to keep checking the nutrition chart and the ingredients of every food you purchase, consider making your purchases in a health food store. These stores usually sell foods that are better for you and have already done nutritional research. You can even use those to help you come up with meal ideas.
However, if you want to go on specific diets, here are your options:
Keto Diet
One kind of diet that can help you lose weight and improve your blood sugar levels is the keto diet. The keto diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet. It involves drastically reducing your intake of carbohydrates and replacing them with healthy fats. This change in your diet forces your body to burn fat for energy instead of carbs.
When you’re on the keto diet, you can eat non-starchy vegetables, meat, fish, nuts, seeds, eggs, cheese, and healthy oils. You should avoid eating starchy vegetables, fruit, grains, legumes, sugar, and processed food. It’s an excellent diet for people who have Type-2 diabetes.
DASH Diet
Another diet that can help you lose weight and improve your blood sugar levels is the DASH diet. The DASH diet is a balanced approach to eating that includes more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. It also limits sodium, red meat, sweets, and sugary drinks.
The DASH diet can help you lose weight, lower your blood pressure, and improve your cholesterol levels. It’s also been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
If you want to try the DASH diet, you can find more information online or in books about it. There are also DASH diet programs offered by some health insurance companies.
Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean diet is another option that can help you lose weight and improve your blood sugar levels. The Mediterranean diet is based on the traditional eating habits of people near the Mediterranean Sea.
The Mediterranean diet includes many fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, olive oil, and fish. It also limits red meat, processed food, and sugary drinks.
The Mediterranean diet has been shown to improve heart health, blood sugar levels, and weight loss. It may also reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.
If you want to try the Mediterranean diet, you can find more information online or in books about it. Some health insurance companies also offer Mediterranean diet programs.
Atkins Diet
The Atkins diet is a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that was first popularized in the 1970s. The Atkins diet requires you to drastically reduce your intake of carbs and replace them with healthy fats and proteins.
On the Atkins diet, you can eat non-starchy vegetables, meat, fish, nuts, seeds, eggs, cheese, and healthy oils. You should avoid eating starchy vegetables, fruit, grains, legumes, sugar, and processed food.
The Atkins diet can help you lose weight and improve your blood sugar levels. It’s also been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
If you want to try the Atkins diet, you can find more information online or in books about it. Some health insurance companies also offer Atkins diet programs.
Diabetes is a serious concern among many Americans. However, one of the best ways to prevent it is by maintaining a healthy weight. Eating a healthy diet. Consider these choices when it comes to preventing diabetes through diet.