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We are all aware of the real truth about diabetes. Diabetes cannot be cured but can be controlled. This is an eye-opener for all diabetic patients. But, do not lose hope, there are many ways in which diabetes can be well-managed by keeping complications at bay.
In this context, GS Hospital Pilkhuwa, the Best Kidney Hospitals in Delhi NCR, aims at offering top best care for diabetic patients to control cardiac and other complications of diabetes. With this blog, we shall focus on managing diabetes through lifestyle changes and medications. Let's begin!
Diabetes is an endocrine-metabolic disorder that causes a sudden spike in blood sugar. An increase in blood sugar levels affects the different systems of the body. This increase in blood sugar levels is mainly caused by a lack of insulin secretion or when the body does not use insulin effectively.
Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas which allows the glucose to move into the cells effectively. This helps in converting food into energy by increasing metabolic activity. Without enough insulin in the body, the spike in glucose levels can cause major health issues. Ideally, there is no cure for diabetes, but blood sugar levels can be controlled well.
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide. The incidence of diabetes is increasing worldwide making India the capital of Diabetes.
Managing diabetes is very crucial for a healthy lifestyle. Chronic and uncontrolled diabetes can cause major complications. Medications are essential along with exercise and diet for diabetes management. Along with managing diabetes, it is also important to identify the severity and intensity of the diabetes symptoms. People with diabetes may or may not have symptoms. Moreover, the majority of the time, the symptoms of diabetes are ignored.
The most common symptoms of diabetes are as follows:
Keeping your blood sugar levels within control can be quite challenging at times. Eating meals causes the sugar levels to fluctuate. Sugar levels may change unexpectedly at times. There are certain ways in which sugar levels can be controlled. Let us provide you with valuable insights about how diabetes can be controlled through lifestyle changes and medications.
Food and meals are a very important part of diabetes to control blood sugar levels. These are very crucial for diabetes. What you eat can directly affect your blood sugar levels. Focus on eating a high-fiber diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Choose non-fat dairy and plant-based milk. Limit intake of sugar, fat, and carbs.
Having the right meals every 2 hours is a must for controlling blood sugar levels. It is very important to opt for a healthy diet with regular, timely meals, especially for diabetic patients. Focus on eating what your body needs. Everybody is unique and so are the requirements. Maintain the same time difference between each meal. This is important especially if you take insulin or drugs to control sugars.
It is important to stay active and exercise regularly. One can join a gym or do yoga along with strength and functional training. You can also opt for simple walking for more than 1 hour. Your goal should be to at least exercise and sweat out for 45 -60 minutes to burn fat which will prevent obesity by controlling blood sugar levels. An active lifestyle can help you control your blood sugar levels and ease stress.
It is important to check and monitor your blood sugar levels regularly to prevent sudden upsurge or spike in blood sugar levels. It is important to get your fasting and random blood sugar levels along with HbA1c which gives the 3-monthly average of blood sugar levels. A regular check-up of blood sugar levels at home is a must to keep the blood glucose levels under check.
Staying hydrated is a must which will help keep blood sugar levels under control. Hydration is the key to avoiding any kind of sweet cravings or hunger pangs that may trigger blood sugar levels. If you want to control your blood sugar levels, it is important to check for hydration levels all the time throughout the day. Sipping in water frequently can help a lot. However, it is important to check for polydipsia (increased thirst) in case of diabetes.
Every person is unique. Different people react to different meals or foods differently through spikes in blood glucose and energy levels. A healthy coordination between meals and food is a must along with a healthy diet. It is important to craft a meal plan with your diabetologist depending on your body's needs. An antidiabetic treatment plan is a must based on your sugar levels, food, and medications.
Medication management is a must in case of fluctuating blood sugar levels. Let us not forget that diabetes can be controlled however, it cannot be cured. Blood sugar levels are always ever-changing. It is important to manage your medications well especially if you are insulin injections and oral anti-diabetic medications.
As we all know blood sugar levels are never stationary and keep fluctuating all the time, your doctor may need to change your diabetic medications depending on your body's requirements. Do not kickstart your routine normally with new anti-diabetic medications ASAP, give some time for the new anti-diabetic medications to act.
Try not to make sudden changes in your daily routine. Ensure to stick to your normal regime and make the transition. Also, if you are incorporating any new antihypertensive or cholesterol medications, it is important to be cautious with the same.
Any kind of dizziness, blurring of vision, or numbness with unusual feelings of discomfort should be directly reported to your diabetologist on an immediate basis. These diabetic symptoms may just be an onset of complicated issues such as diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic neuropathy.
It is important to store insulin correctly in order for it to be effective. If insulin is improperly stored or past its expiry date, it will be completely ineffective. It is important to remember that insulin is sensitive to extreme temperatures.
It is important to continue with your anti-diabetic medications even if your sugar levels are under control. Consult your diabetologist who will help you taper down your anti-diabetic medications regularly. Do not discontinue your anti-diabetic medications abruptly.
Stick to your diabetes meal plan. Ask your diabetologist and nutritionist to craft a unique meal plan for you that will help regulate your blood sugar levels naturally. It is important to follow healthy meals while you are on anti-diabetic medications. This will help to keep your blood sugar levels under control. Moreover, sticking to a diabetes meal plan will help taper your conventional medicines by regulating the blood sugar levels at their best under the expertise of your diabetologist.
It is important to take care of your alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption can spike your blood sugar levels causing diabetes. It is important for diabetics to stay away from addictions like alcohol and smoking.
Pregnancy, menopausal, and thyroid issues are all related to hormonal fluctuations. High blood sugar levels are mainly seen in patients with metabolic disorders and hormonal issues. This is mainly due to slow metabolism which is present due to the aging process. It is important to maintain a healthy balanced hormonal to avoid any kind of high blood sugar levels.
It is important to control stress levels. Chronic build-up of stress stimulates the secretion of cortisol hormone (stress hormone) which is responsible for inflammation and high blood sugar levels which directly causes a negative impact on the body. If you are a diabetic patient, it is important to take care of your stress levels which can be a contributory factor to a spike in blood sugar levels.
Making minor alterations to your lifestyle and routine can have a significant impact on your health. This will help in lowering diabetes issues by controlling the blood sugar levels. It is important to get your blood sugar levels monitored by your doctor and develop a comprehensive treatment plan for diet and exercise based on your needs. Regular monitoring, a healthy diet, exercise, the right medications, and routine check-ups can help manage the condition effectively.