12 Memorial Medical Milestones • Winter 2023 Reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes We all live with risks to our health, and we do what we can to lower them. For instance, we buckle our seat belts when we get in a car, and we take our medicines as prescribed. But there is another serious health risk that we need to take steps to prevent and that many of us overlook: type 2 diabetes. “Type 2 diabetes has the potential to hurt our bodies from head to toe. If not well controlled, type 2 diabetes can cause heart disease, stroke, eye and foot problems, and more,” says Ron Lewis Jr., MD, internal medicine physician with Memorial Medical Group. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent or delay this most common form of diabetes. Let’s work together to prevent/delay type 2 diabetes. “Type 2 diabetes doesn’t have to be in your future. Research shows that healthy eating and exercise habits can significantly lower your risk of developing the disease,” says Taylor Belaire, NP. Here are three things to try in 2023 to reduce your risk: 1 Eat healthy foods—but not too much. “Lower your daily calorie intake by eating smaller portions. For example, fill half your plate with vegetables and fruits and just a quarter of it with a low-fat protein and the other quarter with whole grains. Choose low-fat foods that don’t have a lot of sugar, salt or calories. Drink water instead of sweet beverages. Keep your taste buds happy: Use spices and herbs rather than salty, fatty and sugary condiments to flavor your food,” suggests Barbara Walker, NP.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzIxMDA=