Vital Information about Diabetes and How You Can Manage It

Diabetes is one of the most dreaded lifestyle diseases in the world. This condition affects people regardless of age, race and other factors. Once it is discovered that you are suffering from diabetes, the next thing to do is to learn how to manage it. If you do what your doctor advises you to do, you will live a normal healthy life just like other people. You should therefore not worry. Let’s first understand some vital information about diabetes.

There are two types of diabetes. The first one is called diabetes mellitus or type 1diabetes. It occurs when the blood sugar is high and the natural insulin hormone is not able to break down excess sugar. People with this condition are required to take artificial insulin. Insulin mainly administered through injection. The condition can easily be managed when compared to other type of diabetes which we shall also look at. It is the commonest type of diabetes. Patients with this condition should avoid eating sugary foods lest their blood sugar level increase.

The other type is called diabetes insipidus. It is also referred to type 2 diabetes. It occurs when the blood sugar level is low. This condition is rare but quite challenging to manage. Patients suffering from diabetes insipidus should always have sugary foods with them so that in the event that their blood sugar level drops, they can raise it by taking carbohydrate foods.

Now that you know the two types of diabetes, we can begin to look at how to manage the two conditions we are talking about managing because there is no known treatment for diabetes. But when discovered early, you can live for many years with this condition.

Here Is How to Manage Diabetes

Reduce Intake of High Carb Foods

If you have diabetes mellitus, you should reduce your take of high carb foods. In fact, many patients with this condition are discouraged from taking sugary foods. This helps to prevent blood sugar from increasing to dangerous levels.

Take Appropriate Insulin Dosage

Your insulin dosage varies depending on the amount of carbohydrates you take. If you take more carb foods, the dosage may be slightly high.

Eat Well Balanced Foods

Take a balanced diet. This is key to effectively managing diabetes. Your diet should include proteins, vitamins and carbohydrates. Take plenty of fruits and vegetables. They contain fibres which not only help in digestion but also keep blood sugar level stable. You are advised to talk to your doctor. He/she will recommend the best foods to take in the right portion sizes.

Coordinate Meals with Medication

You should learn how to coordinate meals with your medication so that you do not suffer from adverse effects. If you take little food before medication, it may lead to low blood sugar(hypoglycaemia) .On the other hand, if you eat a lot of food before taking your diabetes medicine, you may suffer from a condition called hyperglycaemia(high blood sugar).You should consult your doctor about how to coordinate your meals and medicine schedule.

Avoid Sweetened Beverages

Sweetened beverages like sodas are not good for people with type 1 diabetes. They contain lots of sugar. They have an effect of increasing blood sugar level. This can be more dangerous to your health. Such drinks also contain high amount of calories which will make you increase body weight. This is undesirable because it can worsen your diabetic condition. On top of that, sweetened beverages do not contain vital nutrients which the body requires. However, people with type 2 diabetes may take them to boost the blood sugar level when it falls.

Do Enough Exercise

It is one of the best and most effective ways of managing diabetes mellitus. When you work out, insulin hormone becomes more efficient. It effectively breaks down sugar into energy and water. This helps to reduce the amount of sugar in blood. Make sure that your exercise coordinates well with your diet and medication. In order to effectively monitor your progress, you are advised to record your blood sugar level before and after exercise.

Take Plenty of Water

Many people with diabetes tend to urinate a lot. This makes them lose a lot of water from their bodies. You are advised to take large quantities of water to keep your body hydrated. This will also help to keep your blood sugar in a well-balanced state.

Always Be Prepared

You should always be prepared. This is particularly important to people with low blood sugar. Carry glucose or other sugary foods with you wherever you go. In case blood sugar drops, you can take them and resume your normal activities. This helps to prevent cases where patients faint due to reduced blood sugar level.

Store Insulin Properly

Insulin is usually effective when stored under cold conditions. Avoid keeping it in warm areas.

Report Any Problem to Your Doctor

In case you experience any problem while on diabetes medication, talk to your doctor. For example when blood level drops to low or rises to high upon taking medication. The doctor will advise you on what should be adjusted.

Conclusion

To finalize, you now know what diabetes it, types of diabetes, how the condition can be managed and more. Having diabetes is not the end of life. It is a manageable condition. All you need to do is to take recommended diet, appropriate medication and follow doctor’s advice.

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Kingsley Felix is a Blogger and Webmaster for Healthable, a Health and Wellness blog. Kingsley is also a web developer/designer.