A Guide to Preventing Diabetes for Truck Drivers

The latest data shows that 9.4% of the U.S. population has diabetes, and each year, 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with the disease. The data also highlights the risk that truck drivers face from this growing health issue. Truck drivers are at a 50% greater risk of diabetes than the national average. For this reason, it’s so important that truck drivers take active steps to minimize their potential for developing diabetes. In this post, we’ll provide a guide to diabetes prevention for truck drivers.

Plan Your Diet

One of the leading factors behind the rise in diabetes in truckers is the diet that truckers maintain while on the road. It can be challenging to find healthy eating options when only a select few restaurants are close-by, and so you should try to ensure that you keep a healthy snack with you in your vehicle. Make sure that you have access to fresh vegetables such as carrots and celery. These vegetables are easy to cut up and snack on as you travel. When you make your stops, look for healthy dining options in the area and try to maintain a strict limit on salt content in the meals you consume.

Schedule Physicals in Advance

Make time to speak with your doctor regularly when you arrive home after traveling. These appointments can help to ensure that you’re healthy before you take your next trip and can also help you to learn the steps that will mitigate diabetes and other health conditions over the coming months.

Make Time for Physical Activity

A common mistake some drivers make is not completing at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day. You should try to walk as much as possible when you’re not driving. Regular exercise can help to boost your circulation, allow you to lose weight, and stave off the potential for developing diabetes and other conditions. A short walk each day could be the difference between a healthy lifestyle in the future and constant physical problems.

Watch Your Weight

One of the leading risk factors for diabetes is being overweight. If you have gained significant weight recently, you might consider changing your diet or consulting a nutritionist about changing your approach to eating and exercise. These changes are particularly necessary for truck drivers because they are often most at risk of being overweight due to their need to be in a seated position the majority of their working day.

Get Assistance from Loved Ones

Make sure that your loved ones are part of your proactive strategy for a healthy lifestyle. Involving loved ones in your commitment to preventing diabetes can ensure they support you even when you’re on the road. For example, they can discuss your eating and exercise plans on the phone with you and help you plan your meals away from home to stay healthy.