Sanjit Bindra, MD
Board-certified Endocrinologist
Lakewood Hospital Diabetes and Endocrine Center
Q. I’ve recently been diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes. Can you tell me how to adjust my lifestyle in order to manage and control this disease?
A. While the exact cause of diabetes continues to remain a mystery, we do know that genetics and environmental factors, such as obesity and lack of exercise, appear to play major roles.
People with diabetes are at risk for long term complications such as cardiovascular disease and chronic renal failure, which is the main cause of dialysis for adults; however, people with diabetes can live a long and healthy life and education and discipline play a critical role in managing the disease.
The ultimate goal of treating type 2 Diabetes is to control the blood sugar level.
The first steps in controlling blood sugar are diet and exercise. Weight loss plays a large role in blood sugar level and by choosing the right foods and being physically active, you will benefit from a lower blood sugar level and extra energy. You may still require medication or insulin to control your blood sugar level, but diet and exercise will be the success factors in attaining your goals.
The goal of diabetes management is to keep levels of blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol as close to the normal range as safely possible. Proper management and care contributes to a comfortable quality of life for these patients and increased likelihood for a healthier future!
In order to control your blood glucose levels, it’s important to understand some of the basic food groups – such as fats, proteins and carbohydrates and your daily caloric intake. Carbohydrate containing foods have the largest effect on blood glucose levels. A good strategy would be to space the intake of carbohydrates throughout the day in a consistent manner.
Dr. Sanjit Bindra is board-certified in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism. He plays an integral role in better serving the needs of our patients with diabetes and other endocrine disorders at the Lakewood Hospital Diabetes and Endocrine Center.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Bindra, please call 216-529-5300.
To learn more about the Lakewood Hospital Diabetes and Endocrine Center, click here.