Diabetes is a scary disease for most people, especially people who are not able to afford adequate medication, regular visits to the GP and self-testing equipment.

For these people, diabetes means what it has always meant throughout history: numb extremities, poor sight or blindness, amputations and an early death.

Therefore, it ought to become a major issue of everyone to learn how to attempt to avoid diabetes. The first thing is not to panic, because many individuals believe that we can bring circumstances down upon ourselves by thought alone.

In other words, we become or get what we think of the most. It could be true, so do not worry, if you can avoid it. The people the most prone to diabetes are those who have a family history of it; those who are obese and some pregnant women.

If you fall into any or a few of the ‘at risk’ categories, the first thing that you should do is acquaint yourself with the disease and how it can manifest itself, so that you are constantly on the look out for danger signs. Furthermore, you should also inform your doctor that you are worried about diabetes.

It is well-known that diabetics have ‘too much glucose in their blood’, but it is not at all certain that eating sugary or starchy foodstuffs to excess causes diabetes. If you do consume these foodstuffs to excess, the likelihood are that you will be obese and then there is a greater risk of diabetes.

However, if you eat these things and then burn them off through strenuous physical labour or exercise, in a way, you have not eaten them ‘to excess’. Nevertheless, it is worth contemplating your lifestyle and whether it could do with being improved.

Have your doctor run a few tests to see if you are in a pre-diabetic state and then you will have a clearer understanding of what you should do to keep clear of ‘definitely’ becoming diabetic.

Even if you can only afford one visit to the GP, this is the test you have to have.

One thing is certain, if you consume a healthy diet, you will have less chance of becoming ill for whatever reason. Eating healthily will give you a better opportunity of avoiding serious illnesses such as diabetes.

Starch and sugar are the enemies of diabetics because they raise the blood-sugar level very quickly resulting in spikes that a diabetic’s body cannot handle well. Steer clear of these fast burners and stick with slow-burning, fibrous fruits and vegetables. Meat is also slow-burning, as are whole grains, pulses, lentils and beans. Fish is low in calories.

Weight is a big factor and eating sensibly for a period of time will normalize your weight. You will not get fat from breathing air, only by eating more calories than you use up. You have to consume to give your body enough nutrients to do its job.

However, these nutrients come wrapped in calories and frequently with more than you require, therefore you need to exercise to burn them off. You do not have to work out in the gym to burn off a couple of hundred calories a day.

Take the dog for a walk or take your partner for a walk or even go alone. Buy a bike and cycle a little every evening. Swim a little, but do something.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on a variety of topics, but is now concerned with diabetic friendly meals. If you would like to know more, please visit our web site at Cookbooks For Diabetics.