Tips for Staying Healthy
No matter what kind of diabetes you have, you can manage your symptoms by seeing your healthcare provider regularly and making healthy lifestyle choices. The following tips can help you manage your diabetes and stay healthy.
Get regular exercise: Aim for 150 minutes a week (or 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week) of moderate effort activities. This is exercise that allows you to talk but not sing during the activity (like walking fast or riding a bike). Explore with your healthcare provider what types of physical activity would work for you. Learn more about getting regular exercise.
Eat healthy foods: Eating healthy is the key to managing blood sugar. Use these tips:
- Talk to your healthcare provider or dietitian about creating a plan for healthy eating
- Include these in your meals:
- Non-starchy vegetables (such as carrots, broccoli or lettuce)
- Minimally processed foods (like roasted nuts and cut or frozen vegetables)
- Limit foods with added sugars and refined grains (such as white rice, white bread, quick oats and crackers)
Learn more about healthy eating.
If you use tobacco products, quit! Talk to your healthcare provider about quitting options. Learn more about quitting smoking.
Practice good sleep habits: If you don’t sleep well or long enough, it can negatively affect your immunity, mood and diet. Being tired increases hunger and cravings for sugary foods.
Get more tips
- Learn more about living with diabetes at the Centers for Disease Control website.
- Learn proven ways to start and keep new healthy habits.