Diabetes care and management
Diabetes is the most common chronic condition that is affecting millions of people of all ages worldwide. It happens when the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin effectively; that can cause a rise in blood sugar levels. If left untreated or not managed properly, diabetes can result in serious complications such as kidney damage, heart disease, vision loss and nerve problems. However, diabetes can be effectively controlled by regular check-ups, taking proper precaution measures, healthy lifestyle changes and medication.These changes allow individuals to live healthy lives.
Precautions to Take in Diabetes
People need to be cautious and proactive in everyday life to manage and control diabetes.
Some important precautions include:
- Monitoring Blood Sugar Regularly: Frequently checking glucose helps ununderstanding how the body is responding to food, exercise, and medication.
- Balanced and healthy diet: Avoid fats, sugary and processed foods. Instead, start consuming vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
- Medication: Never skip medicines prescribed by the doctor or insulin doses. You will experience sudden spikes or drops in sugar levels if you are being inconsistent in taking medicines.
- Hydration and Portion Control: Drinking lots of water to stay hydrated and eating in small and controlled portions helps in maintaining your sugar levels.
- Foot Care: Foot care is important, as in diabetes there is poor blood circulation towards the feet, causing nerve damage; small cuts or infections on the feet may become serious if left unnoticed.
- Stress Management: Fluctuations in your blood sugar are caused by stress. You can try some relaxation techniques to overcome stress, such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing.
- Smoking and Alcohol: Both smoking and alcohol increase the risks of serious complications such as nerve damage and cardiovascular diseases.
You can reduce the risk of long-term and severe complications by taking these precautions consistently.
Tests to Check and Monitor Diabetes
There are several tests available that can help in diagnosing and monitoring diabetes. You can keep track of blood sugar control by these tests:
- Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) Test: You need to measure blood glucose after at least 8 hours of fasting. If the level is above 126 mg/dL, it indicates diabetes.
- Random Blood Sugar Test: You can check your blood sugar at any time of the day. Readings must be below 200 mg/dL; if they exceed this level, then it indicates diabetes.
- Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT): In this test you check blood sugar level before and after drinking a glucose solution. After two hours, if levels are high, then diabetes is confirmed.
- Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) Test: This test reflects average blood sugar levels over the past 2 to 3 months. If results show higher measurements, then it confirms diabetes.
- Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM): In CGM a small sensor is placed under the skin which tracks sugar levels throughout the day.
- Additional Health Screenings: Some additional screening is also important, as diabetes affects other organs as well, such as kidney function, cholesterol, and eye health. Finalising treatment plans and preventing any complications become easier with regular testing.
Diabetes care and management
To control diabetes, medication is necessary, especially in cases when diet control and changes in lifestyle are not making any difference. The doctor will prescribe medicines depending on the type of diabetes and the patient’s condition:
- Insulin Therapy: Insulin therapy is essential for type 1 diabetes patients and sometimes required in advanced cases of type 2 diabetes. There are different types of insulin therapy, such as
- Rapid-acting· short-acting
- Intermediate
- Long-acting insulin.
2. Oral Medications for Type 2 Diabetes:
Some oral medications are used to treat type 2 diabetes, which includes:
- Metformin (lowers glucose production in the liver and improves sensitivity of insulin)
- Sulfonylureas: (Helps pancreas to produce more insulin)
- DPP-4 Inhibitors (Helps in reducing glucose production and increases insulin release)
- SGLT2 Inhibitors (remove excess glucose in kidneys through urine)
- Thiazolidinedione: Improves insulin in muscles and fat tissues.
3. Injectable Medications: GLP-1 receptor agonists reduce your blood sugar and also help in weight loss. Before starting or changing any medication, it is important that you consult a healthcare professional first.
Lifestyle Changes to Control Diabetes
A major key to managing diabetes involves adopting healthy lifestyle habits. These changes show remarkable results in keeping blood sugar stable:
- Healthy Eating Plan
- Focus on a low-sugar diet that prevents sudden rises in blood sugar.
- Prefer eating fibre-rich foods like oats, fruits, vegetables and lentils.
- Avoid consumption of sugary drinks, processed foods, and excessive fried food items.
- Don’t take heavy meals; instead, eat in smaller portions frequently.
2. Regular Physical Activity:
Make a habit of at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, such as brisk walking, swimming or cycling. Don’t sit for long hours, and stay active throughout the day.
3. Weight Management: Maintain a healthy weight to reduce the risk of insulin resistance.
4. Proper Sleep: Get a good sleep for at least 7 to 9 hours. It will help to reduce stress hormones.
5. Stress Reduction: Stress can disturb your blood sugar level. Engage yourself in relaxation practices to maintain balance, such as:
- Meditation
- breathing exercises
- light hobbies
Conclusion
A combination of healthy living, vigilance, and medical care is required to manage diabetes. Regular check-ups and tests ensure that sugar levels remain under control.
For patients managing diabetes who also worry about Infertility, visit our related article to understand the connection.