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Writer's pictureDr. Chitra Jothinathan

How do you manage to live with Diabetes

Updated: Aug 9


The Power of Team-Based Care for Managing Diabetes

Diabetes is a type of long-term disease that affects blood sugar level or know as Glycemia. Diabetes need constant attention to ensure that the patient keeps to a healthy lifestyle since it influences the blood sugar level and the body system in general. 


Diabetes, therefore has to be managed effectively especially focusing on proper nutrition in order to avoid adverse impacts on the general health. A key aspect of diabetes is to maintain normal blood glucose levels which is usually made possible by following a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and following the recommended medication regime. Refined grains and sugars together with any harmful type of fat increases blood sugar while does not help in controlling it. The physical activity like walking, cycling, swimming, etc helps in increasing the sensitivity to insulin and helps in the management of body weight which is very important for diabetes. It means that constant observations of the blood sugar levels ensure that the individuals get to know how their body is going to respond to specific kinds of foods or activities that are of importance in the management of their conditions. 


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Insulin or oral hypoglycemic medications should be used as per the doctor’s prescription if generalised and modified with general practitioners. However, stress is considered, as stress is a factor, which influences the change of blood sugar levels. Turner little noted that anti stress methods include the likes of mindfulness and meditation as well as adequate sleep. Maintenance sessions with the appropriate health care consumer are also useful in tracking the nature and degree of the disease and implementing changes in the consumer’s care plan. Such approaches enable the people with diabetes to age well, exercise, when not have complications such as heart disease or peripheral neuropathy or kidney failure.


Balanced Diet: It is also a fact that has been established that effective management of diabetes requires control of the diet that a person takes. This encompasses portion control, restriction of carbohydrates and going for foods that have low glycemic index for better regulation of blood glucose levels. Eating a lot of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, good protein sources, and healthy oils will help maintain good health and also prevent the development of diabetes. 


Regular Physical Activity: Exercise is recommended in the management of diabetes and should be taken at least three times a week. The physical activity is used here to reduce the blood sugar level, to enhance the action of insulin and to weight control. Try to do 150 minutes or more of moderate aerobic activity per week: and do strength training activities two or more days a week. 



Monitoring Blood Sugar Levels: Self-Testing for Blood Glucose is a core activity to support people living with diabetes to know the body’s reactions to food intake, exercises, drugs, stress and any other influential aspect. It helps one to fine tune the management of the diabetes by modifications of the treatment plans for the goal of achieving good glycemic control. 


Medication Adherence: For type 1, diabetes patients have to take insulin to be able to control their blood sugar level. People with type 2 can also need insulin injections or oral antidiabetic agents or injectable drugs containing non-insulin drugs. Taking medicines as prescribed by doctors should be maintained so that they can reduce their blood sugar levels so that their health can be improved. 


Stress Management: Stress can impact on blood glucose thus, clients with diabetes should identify appropriate ways of dealing with stress. Deep breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, or doing other activities which are enjoyable and positive can decrease the stress level. 

 

Regular Medical Check-ups: People with diabetes should visit their primary care physician, endocrinologist, and diabetologists, and diabetes educators on a regular basis to check the diabetes control, early identification of complications, and modification of treatment. 


Foot Care: Diabetes have more prone to foot complications because of the nerve and blood circulation with in the body. Proper foot care consisting of daily foot examination, using the right shoes and seeing a specialist when one develops foot complications like ulcers and infections is recommended. 

 

Maintaining a Healthy Weight: Managing obesity through weight loss has been recommended for one to be able to control diabetes and its complications. Lifestyle changes in most cases, including lifestyle changes in the form of diet, exercise, and positive lifestyle changes can assist people manage and reduce weight optimally. 

 

Avoiding Tobacco and Limiting Alcohol: Tobacco use and alcohol consume are hazardous to the health of a diabetic since they trigger worsening of the complications and cardiovascular diseases respectively. Smoking cessation and sensible use of alcohol are some of the ways of managing the complications associated with diabetes. 

 

Education and Support: Diabetes self-management interventions through dissemination of relevant information pertaining to diabetes and assistance from physicians, diabetes specialists, caregivers and or support groups and family members assist a person to regain mastery on diabetes. 


Diabetes is chronic and demands constant attention, but personal effort and proper strategies of adhering to diabetic friendly lifestyle, helps in managing diabetes and its complications hence improving the quality of life.

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