Diabetes Management: Tips to Live Well

Hundreds and millions of people globally are affected by diabetes, a medical condition concerning sugar levels in the human body. If unmanaged, diabetes can lead to several complications. Therefore, everybody suffering from this chronic condition must undergo a diabetes test in Ahmedabad and take the necessary measures to get it under control. While you may know things about diabetes, this blog is like a guide to help you manage the condition.

What is Diabetes?  

Diabetes is a condition that affects the way the body transforms food into energy. In this condition, the body is either unable to produce enough insulin or use it appropriately. When this happens, the amount of blood sugar in the bloodstream is high. As a result, it increases the risk of severe health conditions like vision loss, kidney disease, heart disease, and more.

Even though a perfect cure for the condition remains unidentified, adopting lifestyle changes like a healthy diet, staying active, and losing weight can help significantly. Apart from the modifications, you can learn about and implement diabetes self-management, continue taking medications as per the prescription, and schedule regular blood collection at home or visit the lab to monitor the status.

Types of Diabetes

Three major types of diabetes are:

Type 1 Diabetes

It is believed to be a result of an autoimmune reaction, meaning the body attacks itself unintentionally. As a result, the body does not make insulin. Type 1 is rare, and there is no specific age factor for it. Please note that this rare type is one of the most severe, and those suffering from this might have to take insulin every day.

Type 2 Diabetes 

Under this type, the body becomes incapable of using insulin appropriately. This is the most common type of diabetes found in humans. Type 2 diabetes might take years to develop and is often diagnosed when one enters the adult phase. There is a chance the symptoms might go unnoticed. Therefore, getting yourself tested at the best pathology laboratory in India in case of any red flags becomes extremely important.

Gestational Diabetes 

Pregnant females with no history of diabetes are at risk of developing gestational diabetes. If this happens, the unborn are at a high risk of developing certain health complications. Even though this type of diabetes might disappear post-delivery, it increases the chances of mothers developing type 2 diabetes in the later stages of their lives. Moreover, the chances of a baby having obesity or developing type 2 diabetes increases as well.

Click here to know more about 3 types of diabetes.

How Can You Manage Diabetes? 

Diabetes is a chronic condition that can, at times, disturb normal functioning or impact your organs. Therefore, managing it becomes crucial, and some ways you can do this are:

Healthy Diet 

Eating healthy and in controlled proportions is an important part of managing diabetes, i.e., sugar levels in the bloodstream. Consult the dietician or doctors when it comes to choosing options that might prove beneficial for your blood sugar. Irrespective of the diabetes meal plan, please know that limiting the intake of foods and beverages containing high-added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat is highly crucial.

General Diabetes Diet Tips:

• All fruits (especially whole fruit) and vegetables
• Whole-grain foods
• Low-fat or fat-free milk, cheese, yogurt, or lactose-free versions of dairy products.
• Oils including oils present in food like nuts and seafood and vegetable oils
• Foods rich in protein like poultry, lean meats, beans, soy products, and nuts

Lifestyle:

Implementing healthy and necessary lifestyle changes can significantly help you control diabetes. Some of the most important things to include in your diabetes care plan are to quit smoking since it puts the patient at higher risk of problems like eye, kidney, or heart disease, stroke, foot issues, nerve damage, and blood vessel disease. Next is to limit the alcohol intake since consuming excessive alcohol can either reduce or increase your blood sugar significantly. Thus, choosing not to overdo it is the best decision. Moreover, patients must keep their stress levels under control and take necessary steps that will help them lose or manage weight (especially for those suffering from obesity).

Exercise

Engaging in relevant physical activity can prove to be highly beneficial for people with diabetes. Exercising or staying physically active helps in reducing insulin resistance while increasing insulin sensitivity. Moreover, physical exercise for diabetes will help you manage weight and keep cholesterol and blood pressure under control. Different types of exercise affect blood sugar levels differently.

While it is best to consult the doctors when it comes to understanding the exact physical activity suitable according to your condition, you can keep exercises like walking, running, biking, and swimming in the plan. Those wanting to do exercises for diabetic patients at home or do higher intensity workouts (like gymnastics, sprinting, and weight-lifting) should discuss it with their caregiver.

Medications & Treatments

Implementing lifestyle changes might not be enough to manage diabetes in several cases. Therefore, the patients need to follow their diabetes medicine and entire treatment precisely. Medicines are usually prescribed on the basis of the patient's diabetes and overall condition, and the treatment plan can be a combination of all the ways and more than what is discussed in this blog. Overall, medication and diabetes treatment plans are to help your body release and use insulin appropriately. This also helps in reducing the risk of other complications associated with diabetes. So, ensure you understand the formulation and entire treatment plan well enough to follow it appropriately.

Conclusion 

Diabetes management is a crucial aspect of living healthily with a chronic condition. However, your knowledge, dedication, and routine checkups at Sterling Accuris Diagnostics play an essential role. Please take time out for yourself to shift to a healthy lifestyle that manages your condition and significantly decreases the chances of developing potential complications of diabetes.