If you are suffering from diabetes or your loved ones are, you would want to know all the possible treatments, symptoms and complications. Now that you are familiar with all the important details such as treatment of diabetes, the signs and symptoms of diabetes, complications involved in diabetes, etc you might want to help them or help yourself in diabetes management. Diabetes is a syndrome that is it brings with itself myriad complications and diseases.
In order to avoid diabetes complications it is extremely necessary for a person diagnosed with diabetes to keep a check on six main things. The weight, the diet, exercise, monitoring blood sugar level, special care of body parts like feet, eyes, heart, kidney etc and taking prescribed medicines/injection on time.
The diet of a diabetic patient should be well balanced and should include proteins, complex carbohydrates, some fats, fluids, green leafy vegetables, nuts, fruits and lean meats. People who have a sweet tooth and cannot resist sugar may use sugar substitutes in their meals. Better still they can use natural sweeteners like Stevia. When you eat you must monitor your glucose intake and glycemic index of food taken. Refined foods and ready to eat meals are a complete no no. The patients should have small meals at regular intervals. They should also have fixed meal times to have food. Sudden Fluctuations during meal times may also increase the blood sugar levels. Hence when should be careful. It is always good to meet a specialist or a dietician who can recommend an ideal diet plan for you.
Weight Management is an important factor for diabetes patients and diabetes management. Over 50% of people diagnosed with diabetes are overweight or obese. Hence one should try and reduce weight. If that is not possible the person must at least maintain their weight. Crash dieting should be strictly avoided. A diabetes patient should never opt for diet pills in order to lose weight. This could give rise to complications. Weight loss should be done by exercising.
Regular Exercise: It is necessary for a diabetic patient to exercise for at least thirty minutes daily. But he should keep in mind that he should not take up strenuous exercises before consulting his doctor. Brisk walking, jogging and yoga are a good way to keep the body healthy and fit and the mind fresh. Playing sports like badminton or tennis is also a good form of exercise.
Self Care: A diabetes patient suffers from delayed healing of wounds. So special care must be taken that he should not injure himself while exercising. Also it is a good idea to invest in a good pair of shoes and pay special attention to the feet. A diabetes patient should also take special care about his/her eyes, kidney, heart and gums & teeth.
Insulin/Medicines: Medicines and/or insulin injections are usually usually prescribed by doctors to the diabetic patients. Such persons must take their medicines and injections on time and make sure that the dosage is as per prescription. Self medication should be strictly avoided.
Monitoring Blood Sugar Level: A diabetes patient must monitor his blood sugar level frequently. Type 2 diabetes patients must get his fasting blood sugar level tested atleast after every 15 days (preferably from laboratory) and HBA1C checked after every 3 months to check if you are managing bloodsugar level effectively. If your doctor has advised different frequency of tests, then you must follow his advice only. If test results are not normal, then consult the doctor and he might adjust the dosage of medicines to change the medicines accordingly.
Supplements: Some supplements might be necessary for diabetes patients depending on type of medicines he is taking, age of patient and stage and type of diabetes. For example, if a person is taking metformin to control diabetes, then he must take Vitamin B12 supplement as it causes its deficiency and may result in Diabetic Neuropathy. Also, certain minerals like chromium, magnesium etc may be deficient in diabetic patients. Talk to your doctor to check if you need them..
