Is taking control of diabetes possible? Yes, of course, if every patient diagnosed with diabetes learns and understands the disease and its complications. People with diabetes struggle to maintain and balance their blood glucose level close to normal. This can only be achieved by sticking to goals and not giving up. It is a very serious disease, but you can do a lot more to take charge of your life and avoid the serious complications of diabetes.
Manage Your Diabetes
“Balance” is an important keyword while trying to take charge of diabetes. Maintain a thorough balance between food, exercise, and medications you take.
A few tips about your diet
Whether diabetic or a normal person, eating healthy is very important. Here are a few diet tips for a diabetes patient to lead a healthy life; healthy eating helps to maintain a normal glucose level.
- Eating food at regular time is as important as eating healthy.
- Eating little but frequently will help you control your blood sugar level.
- Consume food less in fat content.
- Having a variety of diet will help you gain all the required nutrition.
- Cut down sugar in your diet.
- Less salted food will help your control your blood pressure.
- Alcohol consumption may react with your diabetic medication and cause serious effects.
Creating your own diet list is very effective in controlling blood glucose and blood pressure level.
A few tips about your medications
A major breakthrough in controlling diabetes came after the discovery of insulin. Insulin intake should be equally balanced with the diet and the physical activity done. Taking medication for blood glucose control is unavoidable; medications may be insulin, pills, or other injections. Medications also maintain a normal blood pressure and cholesterol level. If you are taking other medicines along with your diabetes medicines, it is advisable that you consult your physician about how it affects your glucose control. If you regularly take insulin shots, then learn
- How to give injections?
- When to change the dosage of insulin?
- How to safely dispose the used syringe or needle?
- Learn about proper storage of insulin.
- Be precautious with new medications.
A few tips about your physical activities
Exercise is an unavoidable part of diabetes management. It is very important to be physically active. Regular physical activities will help you control your blood glucose level and it also avoids further future complications of diabetes. The various advantages of regular exercise are:
- Helps to lower your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol level.
- Increases the level of good cholesterol
- Shoos away the risk of heart disease and stroke
- Helps the body to absorb glucose much better
- Keeps your bone strong and joint flexible
- Helps you lose weight by reducing body fat
Very importantly before starting your exercise your doctor’s permission should be obtained. Check your blood glucose level after exercise. Remember to eat something, as even hours after exercise your glucose level might decrease.
If you have never been doing any exercise then start it right away. Initially, begin with little activity for smaller duration. Start with activities that you enjoy doing, like walking, dancing, swimming, cleaning, and gardening. It is advised to do little activities everyday than doing all at a stretch in one single day. Try doing your exercise in the morning as it is the best time.
Type-I diabetic patients should avoid vigorous exercise when ketones are detected in their urine. Exercising in the presence of ketone bodies will increase your blood glucose level even more. In case of type-II diabetes exercise might lower your glucose level. Therefore, consulting your physician is very important.
Keeping track of your blood glucose level
Tracking your blood glucose level frequently helps prevent many diabetic complications such as kidney disease, eye problem, foot ulcers, teeth and gum problem, etc.
Self-monitoring of glucose
You can do a simple test at home every day to find out your blood glucose level. This can be done using a portable electronic device called glucometer, which calculates the amount of blood glucose using a small drop of blood that is placed on the test strip. The glucometer reads the value digitally on the screen. Regular testing can help you understand how well your diet, exercise, and your medications are helping you in maintaining your blood glucose level close to normal. Regular testing immediately warns you when your glucose level is too high or too low. Visit your health care center and have your A1C (average glucose level over a period of time) checked every 3 – 6 months. Make a note of these readings and discuss with your physician about maintaining or re-scheduling your diabetes management plan.
Know the ABC of diabetes
Just blindly noting down the regular blood glucose value will prove no use, it is essential that you know the normal value you need to compare with. Three very important things to be lime-lighted are ABC of diabetes, which represents A1C test, blood pressure and cholesterol level. Try to maintain them close to the normal level. In case, if the values are fluctuating more, then consult your physician about your diet, exercise, and medications. Controlling ABC will take you far away from the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Your goal in maintaining these should be
- A1C value must be less than 7%
- Blood pressure should be 130/80 mmHg
- Cholesterol (mg/dl)
Low Density Lipid Cholesterol should be < 100mg/dl
High Density Lipid Cholesterol for Men > 40, for Women > 50
Triglycerides < 150.
Regular care from your healthcare team
Eye Care
As you are aware, improper management of diabetes can lead to major health issues. Thus, an annual examination of the eyes can help avert more serious issues down the road. See your doctor right away if you are experiencing issues like flashing spots, blurred vision, etc. A simple laser procedure that slows down the damage to the eyes can treat eye damage. Appropriate treatment and routine examinations can prevent approximately 95% of diabetic eye complications. Numerous researchers contend that lowering cholesterol and blood pressure also slows the deterioration of vision.
Care of kidneys
Filtering extra fluid out of the body is one of the kidney’s essential functions. High blood glucose impairs the kidney’s ability to function and eventually causes it to stop altogether; this is known as kidney failure. To prevent kidney problems, make sure you get the following test performed at least once annually:
- Micro-albumin test: Testing urine for proteins
- Creatinine test: A blood test
- A1C test
- Blood pressure and cholesterol test
- Consult whether you should reduce your protein intake
Certain blood pressure medications have been shown to aid in preventing kidney damage. Consult your doctor if you are able to take those tablets. Speak with your doctor about cutting back on your high-protein food intake, giving up smoking, and maintaining blood pressure and blood sugar levels that are close to normal.
Foot care
Foot care in diabetic patients is imperative. Diabetes, for an extended period of time can harm nerves in important body parts. Self-monitor your feet for sores and bruises. Sometimes a sore may heal, but the infection still persists and spreads internally. Leg amputation is the only remaining option if treatment is not received on time.
Tips for foot care:
- First, keep your glucose level close to normal.
- Regularly examine yourself for red spots, bumps, sores, infections, and bruises.
- Use warm water to wash your feet, and then gently wipe them until they are dry.
- Apply lotion and wear socks. Never apply lotions in between toes.
- Cut and clean your toe nails.
- Never use a blade or knife to forcefully remove corn or calluses (cell growth). Consult your podiatrist.
- Take caution when wearing shoes and be aware of any sharp edges.
- Always wear slipper or shoes.
- Don’t use a water bottle or heating pad on foot.
- Never walk bare foot.
- Tell your doctor right away if you experience any foot issues, and ask them to check your feet on a regular basis.
Taking control of your life
Managing blood glucose level and taking control over diabetes may sound very difficult but all it needs is an extra care diet, proper medication, and required amount of physical activity. “Prevention is better than cure” holds true for diabetes too. Therefore, have a complete idea about the disease, and how it affects you. Detailed knowledge about the basic information will provide you an upper hand in diabetes management.
