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• HEALTH TIP OF THE MONTH
How to Manage Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus, simply known as diabetes (Greek) is a syndrome characterised by disordered metabolism and inappropriately high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia) resulting from either low levels of the hormone insulin or from abnormal resistance to insulin’s effects coupled with inadequate levels of insulin secretion to compensate. The characteristic symptoms are excessive urine production (polyuria), excessive thirst and increased fluid intake (polydipsia), and blurred vision. These symptoms are likely absent if the blood sugar is only mildly elevated.—Source wikipedia.com
Keeping your blood sugar at a healthy level
Persons with diabetes should keep their blood sugar (also called blood glucose) at a healthy level to prevent or slow down diabetes problems. Ask your doctor or diabetes teacher what a healthy blood sugar level is for you.
• Your blood sugar can get too high if you eat too much. If your blood sugar becomes too high, you can get sick.
• Your blood sugar can also go too high if you do not take the right amount of diabetes medicine.
• If your blood sugar stays high, especially for pro longed periods of time, you can get diabetes
problems. Problems that can occur include injury to the heart, eye, foot, kidney, and other problems.
• You can also get sick if your blood sugar becomes too low.
How can I keep my blood sugar at a healthy level?
• Eat about the same amounts of food each day.
• Eat your meals and snacks at about the same times each day.
• Do not skip meals or snacks.
• Take your medicines at the same times each day.
• Exercise at about the same times each day.
Why should I eat about the same amount each day?
• The food you eat turns into sugar and travels to your blood. This is called blood sugar. Your blood sugar goes up after you eat.
• Your blood sugar will not stay at a healthy level if you eat a big lunch one day and a small lunch the next day
.
Why should I eat at about the same times each day?
• To help you keep your blood sugar from getting too high or too low.
• To help your diabetes medicine keep your blood sugar at a healthy level. Here are some hints:
• Diabetes pills: Take these before you eat.
• Regular, NPH, or Lente insulin: Take this 30
minutes before you eat.
• Humalog insulin lispro: Take this just before you eat.
Point to remember
The food you eat makes your blood sugar go up. Diabetes medicines make your blood sugar go down. Together, when each is taken properly, they help you keep your blood sugar at the healthy level. —Source medicinenet.com
How to maintain a rich and active lifestyle:
• Symptoms of diabetes include feeling very thirsty and tired, urinating often, losing a lot of weight, blurred vision, and
having cuts or bruises that are slow to heal. If you are
experiencing any of those, see your physician and have your blood sugar levels checked.
• Eat foods that are low in fat, salt, and sugar, and high in fiber to control blood sugar.
• Eat about the same number of calories per day and never skip meals.
• Get physical activity daily. Walking and swimming are
excellent choices.
• Don’t smoke. Smoking leads to heart disease and poor
circulation, conditions which are magnified for those with
diabetes.
• Work with a diabetes educator to learn all that you can about self-care.
• Check your feet for cuts, blisters, and swelling that can result from diabetes-related nerve damage. Call your health care provider right away if you have sores that won’t heal. — Source munsonhealthcare.org
Sometimes, it may seem easier to pop a pill or even take a shot than to put on your walking shoes and hit the trail. But the truth is that exercise, in combination with a healthy diet, is one of the best things you can do to take care of yourself if you have diabetes.
Why exercise?
• Exercise burns calories, which will help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.
• Regular exercise can help your body respond to insulin and is known to be effective in managing blood glucose. Exercise can lower blood glucose and possibly reduce the amount of medication you need to treat diabetes, or even eliminate the need for medication.
• Exercise can improve your circulation, especially in your arms and legs, where people with diabetes can have problems.
• Exercise can help reduce your cholesterol and high blood pressure. High cholesterol and high blood pressure can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
• Exercise helps reduce stress, which can raise your glucose level.
• It can lower your risk for heart disease, reduce your
cholesterol levels and your blood pressure.
• In some people, exercise combined with a meal plan, can control Type 2 Diabetes without the need for medications. — Source lifeclinic.com
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