Diabetes is a disease that can afflict just about anyone. A family history of diabetes means you are most susceptible to the disease and you need to take every precaution early in life to ensure you don’t become its easy target. However, if you do end up with diabetes at some point in your life then you must learn the different steps or principles that will help you manage your diabetes, so you can lead the rest of your life in a healthy way.
Diabetes can affect all body parts and this means you need a team of health care providers like doctors, dieticians, nurses, mental health workers, heart specialists, eye doctors, foot specialists, dentists and other health care professionals. Controlling diabetes for life means you can lower your risks of heart disease, eye ailments that can cause blurring of vision or even blindness, damage to nerves leading to pain in limbs, erectile dysfunction in men, kidney failure and gum infections and teeth loss. These are good enough reasons why you require controlling diabetes.
1. Be Informed About Diabetes
It’s important that you learn everything you can about the disease as this will enable you to work better with your healthcare providers and help you manage your disease so as to reduce risks of other problems. Diabetes is a serious ailment. There are two types of diabetes - Type 1 and type 2. Find out from your doctor to which category you belong.
Type 1 diabetic people require taking insulin on daily basis. It is uncommon and was referred to as juvenile diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes can be control through diets and exercise along with medication or insulin injections. This is the most common form of the ailment found in people across the world.
Most people don’t realize they have the disease till very late. Many of the symptoms remain unnoticed or go undetected for years and only during a doctor’s visit that it becomes evident that they have the disease. These are people who are at higher risk than others and need to seek medical assistance in diagnosing the disease. They are people who are:
- Over the age of 45
- Obese or overweight
- Having diabetes running in their family
- Have had babies weighing over nine pounds
- Have high blood pressure
- Have very high cholesterol levels
- Indulge in no physical activity
2. Care for Diabetes
Seek a doctor’s help if you think you may have diabetes. Be vigilant about the treatment and check if it’s working and don’t fail to take the support of your family, friends, health care providers and co-workers. Feel free to ask your doctor everything you need to know about your ailment and how you can care for it best.
3. Control of Diabetes
Diabetes can affect various organs in your body and it’s important you eat the right foods, exercise well and take good care of your body. Eating foods right for diabetes and avoiding certain foods that can cause more harm will ensure your diabetes will be in control. Go for brisk walks daily. Avoid smoking and reduce your alcohol intake.
4. Tests and Examinations
It’s important that you test your blood glucose levels regularly as this will indicate where you stand. Your blood pressure needs to be maintained and cholesterol levels should be well within the permitted levels. An increase in any of these will lead to serious complications.
5. Monitor Diabetes
Monitoring your disease will help you be in full control of your ailment. Go for regular checkups with all doctors like dentists, foot specialist and eye specialists. Take the blood glucose level tests regularly as it will indicate to what extent your diabetes is in control.
6. Check Glucose Levels at Home
You must check your glucose levels at home daily, keep an account of the readings and show it to your doctor on your next visit. Glucose levels should be checked before and after meals. There are many gadgets like a glucometer in the market that can help you.
7. Know Your Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
Diabetes and heart ailments are interrelated and it’s important you manage high blood pressure and cholesterol levels effectively. Excessive cholesterol can build up along the lining of your arteries and this can result in heart failures and attacks or even stokes.
