Tom Hanks is one of the famous celebrities who has made his diabetes 2 diagnosis public. So, how does he manage it?
The Throw it away star controls the metabolic disease through strict lifestyle modifications, emphasizing a “boring” diet and consistent, daily exercise, rather than relying solely on medications.
He emphasized that a low-glycemic diet rich in fiber, lean protein and healthy fats, while committing to at least an hour of daily physical activity such as walking or hiking, can help effectively manage diabetes 2.
Key elements of its management strategy include:
- Diet adjustments: Hanks focuses on eating whole foods, controlling portion sizes and avoiding processed foods to stabilize blood sugar levels. He has adopted the ‘plate method’, filling half the plate with non-starchy vegetables, a quarter with lean proteins (fish, chicken) and a quarter with complex carbohydrates.
- Daily exercise: He maintains a strict daily routine of at least an hour of physical activity, including treadmill, walking or strength training to improve insulin sensitivity.
- Weight management: Following his diagnosis, which he admits was the result of years of poor eating habits, Hanks is focusing on maintaining a healthier weight.
- Coherence: He describes his diet as “boring” but necessary, and emphasizes that managing his condition requires consistency.
- Lifestyle and monitoring: He emphasized the importance of getting enough sleep to prevent cortisol from raising blood sugar levels.
Hanks has previously said that although he has been “heavy” and “careless” with his health in the past, these lifestyle changes have allowed him to effectively manage his diabetes.
