The number of people diagnosed with diabetes is increasing at an unprecedented rate every day. Diabetes as an illness is not just affecting the pancreas, but your overall physical health. If you are a diabetic or a close family member of someone suffering from diabetes, then you should know that controlling diabetes and blood sugar level is crucial because controlling diabetes reduces the risk of heart disease and strokes. It also lowers the chances of eye infections and disorders that lead to loss of vision.
Controlling the illness is also helpful in reducing the nerve damage that may cause numbness or pain in feet, legs and other extremities along with kidney failure and dental problems. Read the following steps carefully that can help control diabetes.
1. Know more about diabetes
If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with diabetes, then you must learn more about the illness. This would help you understand why the illness occurs and what are the risk factors associated with diabetes. Also, make sure that you ask a doctor about Type I and Type II diabetes and which one you or your close one suffers from. Type I diabetes requires people to take insulin every day.
This is also called juvenile diabetes as the patients are supposed to inject insulin to their bodies each day so that the sugar and glucose can be broken down. People with Type II diabetes mainly takes pills and change their diets and physical activity to accommodate a changing lifestyle for coping with diabetes. One must also understand that diabetes is a serious disease with several risk factors. Therefore, one needs to pay attention to healthy lifestyle and changes in dietary patterns.
Readers should also know that if they are older than 45, are overweight, had diabetes during pregnancy or have a close family member like mother, brother etc suffering from diabetes, then they must get themselves checked too, particularly if they also have high cholesterol, high blood fats and/or inactive.
2. Taking care
If you or a family member suffers from diabetes than you must take some important step to control it. This should include regular check with health care team, changing medications if the current treatment doesn’t normalize the sugar levels, asking for support and never underestimating any risk symptoms. No change in medications or diet shall occur without prior consultation with a doctor. If you have any questions or concerns then they should be noted down and discussed during your next visit to health professionals.
3. Learning to control
Since diabetes affects major body organs, therefore you need to control it effectively. For this you need to stay healthy and follow a healthy lifestyle. This shall include taking right foods, being physically active and looking after your health. You should maintain an average blood sugar level, improve blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and take medications to prevent heart problems (if necessary). Get into regular physical activity and exercise for at least 20 minutes a day, five times a week. If you can’t exercise, then walk for at least half an hour each day. Follow meal plans and take your prescribed medications regularly. Don’t stop taking medicines if your blood sugar goes normal (unless told by the doctor). Quit smoking and reduce alcohol consumption. Visit your doctor at least twice a year, a dentist twice and eye doctor each year to counter any symptoms associated with diabetes risk hazards.
4. Take care of ABC’s
Diabetes ABC is A-average blood glucose, B-blood pressure and C-cholesterol. You need to take care of these and control them to an extent possible. For this you ought to live an active life and take the prescribed medicine. Know the risk factors and before taking any supplements or vitamins, ask your doctor if they would affect your diabetes. Test glucose levels regularly and visit a doctor if there are marked changes in the glucose levels. Make sure that you keep your health in check. Everyone’s diabetes needs are different; therefore involve yourself for drafting a treatment plan with your doctor.
An average target glucose range for people using whole blood is 80 to 120 before meals and 100 to 140 at bedtime, while for people using plasma is 90 to 130 before meals and 110 to 150 during bed time. You should also know that your LDL cholesterol must be less than 100 and blood pressure shall be less than 130/80. Keep a record of your ABC’s and make achievable targets if you don’t fall in the given range. Watch your feet and hands every day to know if you have any risk symptoms. Also get yourself tested your eyes, kidneys, heart and dental check-ups to reduce any risks.
Lastly, have a positive approach towards and don’t stress yourself. Follow these steps and live a lifestyle where diabetes doesn’t dominate your living.
