Can you believe that 2022 will be over is less than 30 days?! We can’t either. On the bright side, this means yummy food and lots of presents! However, we still need to make healthy decisions over the holidays, especially for those with diabetes.
Did you know, according to the CDC, over 133 MILLION people in the U.S. are living with pre-diabetes or diabetes? It is extremely important to stay educated and educate those within our communities on scheduling regular exams and ways to prevent and manage disease.
So, how do you know if you are pre-diabetic?
You will have high blood sugar levels (100 to 125 mg/dL), but not high enough to be considered diabetes (126mg/dL or higher).Changing your lifestyle can help decrease your risk of becoming diabetic. A healthy diet includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains and olive oil can help lower your risk of becoming diabetic.
It’s also important to be active. Go for at least a 30-minute walk every day. One way to stay active during a busy work schedule is to get up from your work desk and take a short break by either walking to the end of the street, just around the house, or take the dog for a walk. Dogs need exercise too!
What if you are diabetic?
Good news! With the right lifestyle, people living with diabetes can live long, healthy lives. Start with getting in 150 minutes of activity each week. That is only 30 minutes for 5 days a week! Take a 30-minute walk Monday-Friday and treat yourself to two resting days on the weekends! Set a scheduled time, during the weekdays to make this a habit. Also, drink at least 3 liters (12 cups) of water per day. Happy Hour is now Healthy Hour! Grab your oversized Yetis and start drinking…water that is!
It’s also extremely important to monitor and manage your stress. You can learn more about managing your stress from Teladoc, here!
At Mission Health, we are fortunate to have Teladoc included in all health insurance plans. Through Teladoc, you have access to personalized tools to track your blood sugar and develop healthier lifestyle habits and improve glycemic control. You also have the flexibility of when to schedule your appointment because all visits are virtual. Speak with a specialist when you want, where you want. You can work with a specialist physician or a registered dietitian to help improve your healthy lifestyle today!
Also, all full-time employees can also take advantage of our work perks through Working Advantage, where you can get discounts on stress-managing apps such as “Calm” and “Noom”.
As we finish off the holiday season, as tempting as it may be, remember to continue to eat healthy and not to just eat everything in sight. Trust me, it’s hard for me too. But learning some self-control over what you should and should not eat will feel like a huge accomplishment…because it is!
Head to the Yapp app under the “OE 2023” tab to learn more about Teladoc. You can also take a look at the “Work Perks” tab to learn more about Working Advantage to receive your discounted subscription to Calm and Noom! If you do not have the Yapp app, head to your Apple App Store or Google Play store to download the app.
