Diabetes is a lifelong disease so it needs proper management and care to prevent complications associated with it. Diabetic patients need to check their blood glucose level at regular period. Dietary restrictions, regular exercise, natural remedies, medications and insulin injections (for type 1) are necessary to manage and control diabetes.
The common symptoms of diabetes are excessive thirst and hunger, increased frequency of urination, continuous weakness or fatigue, slow healing of cuts and wounds, numbness or tingling in the feet, blurring or loss of vision, and frequent skin infections. Sugar that is not used accumulates in the blood and urine, causing symptoms like excessive thirst and urination, insufficient sleep because of the urge to urinate at night, low energy level, dry mouth, burning sensation in the feet and blurry vision. Whenever you observe such symptoms, have a medical check-up.
Diabetes management depends largely on the patient. Self-control and self-discipline help stabilize the disease. Early morning walk is very beneficial to the patients. If morning time is unsuitable, an evening walk is advisable. As per each person's immunity, the duration of walk should be gradually increased. Walking increases insulin efficiency by raising the number of insulin receptors in muscle cells. Insulin lowers the blood sugar level.
Regular exercise makes you healthier, reduces the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and can help in losing weight. You may need to monitor your blood sugar before, during and after exercise to check how the activity affects your requirements for both insulin and food. Regular moderate exercise improves control over diabetes and reduces the chance of developing coronary artery disease.
Regular check up of glucose in urine and blood should be done. Patients should keep urine test strips at home to maintain regularity. An indication of even a slight amount of sugar is a warning sign. The first thing that comes in diabetes management is eating healthy. Eating consistent portion sizes throughout the day and eating at the same time every day helps in controlling blood glucose levels.
Consult a food nutritionist or a dietitian to prepare your food plan for your diabetes management. The dietitian will suggest you to eat at same time and include plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in your diet, and to avoid too many fats and carbohydrates.
Diet plays an important role in managing diabetes. Bitter vegetables like bitter gourd and drumsticks juice may be given but excess amounts of these may produce other complications such as heart pain, worsening the situation. A combination of diet and medicines lowers blood sugar levels. Treatment is usually life long, and you will have to take responsibility for the daily adjustment of your diet and medicines.
Avoid injuries, especially on the foot. Wear good quality shoes and keep your feet clean. Take special care of infections, burns, trauma and injury because they develop ketosis in such stressful conditions. Do not exert too much and stay tension free. Avoid sleeping during the day and do not take water continuously but in sips as a patient of diabetes mellitus feels excessive thirst.
