Prevention
There is no particular treatment for diabetes. But we can prevent it from happening. There are some cases where diabetes is reversible. Type 2 and most likely Gestational Diabetes can be prevented. Type 1 cannot be prevented because our own body is responsible for it. Some of the factors that can help us control our blood glucose level so that it doesn’t rise are:
- Physical Activity: this is one of the main factor that can help you control your diabetes easily. Government Study, Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) shows that a 200 pound person can prevent Type 2 diabetes by losing 5%-7% of the weight. Also studies show us that, it helps you:
- Lower glucose level
- Reduce stress level
- Help you lose weight, etc.
Being physical activity is very hard thing to do but the advantages you get are unrealistic. These are the things that you can do:
- At least walk for 30 minutes every day.
- Take the stairs instead of elevator
- Ride a bicycle
- Take the dog for a walk, etc.
- Nutrition: a good meal plan can reduce your changes by several percentage of getting Diabetes. Experts from UK shows that eating one extra serving of leafy vegetables, lowers 14% risk of diabetes. American Diabetes Association study shows that eating more fruits and vegetables lower the risk. Also eating Leaner type of meat, for example poultry, eating low fat dairy products, cutting down on sodas and snacks and eating who grain bread instead of processed, lowers your risk from getting diagnosed to Diabetes. Three things should be consider:
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What you eat → should eat mostly fruits and vegetables.
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When you eat → Regular meal and snack time
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How much you eat → should eat only certain portion
Cutting down on products with trans-fat and saturated food is very important. Saturated fat mainly comes from animal products whereas trans-fat comes from adding hydrogen to liquid vegetables oils. This are the most damaging as it increases the risk of getting diagnosed to diabetes. Unsaturated fat that mainly comes from plants, for example nuts, oil, etc. are good for the health. Apart from this, it is crucial to create a good eating habit
- Eat breakfast – eating breakfast eases your blood glucose level.
- Small meals at regular times – eating small meals, 3 small meals and 3 small snacks, will keep your glucose level steady.
- Don’t eat a lot – only eat 80% full.
Lifestyle and Fitness
There are both advantages and disadvantages of diabetes. Diabetes is a disease which needs to be taken care of. The reason why I say this is because if someone is not taking care of it, the blood level will rise dramatically. But he won’t know until it is very late. That’s why; diabetes is disease which needs a proper care. Diabetes can also lead you to heart disease, stroke, etc. if not controlled properly. Diabetes bring challenges for example, how to use technology, a good meal plan and exercise. These things should be planned properly with the help of your doctor.
When people are using syringe in order to treat diabetes, they are afraid to use it. The reason behind this is that the accuracy depends on the person itself. For example, the person has to look after the needle itself, doesn’t inject with the air, etc.
Other products for example, insulin pump which needs to worn most of the time have some disadvantages of its own too. There are many side effects related to this, which includes irritability, can result high and as well low sugar level. Disadvantages of this include, that they were very uncomfortable to wear. There have been some situation where because of the loose wire, a person might need to suffer in future. Apart from this people find it hard to use.
Nutrition plays a big role because one has to change entirely. One has to now relay only on fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy, leaner meat, etc. Education is the first step in order for someone to be safe. There can be complication when someone eats too much of something: anything in excess is poison. A diabetic person should look after that he is not heavy on carbohydrates and should instead should be heavy on proteins and vegetables. We can get proteins from meat. Relying just on meat might cause serious problems.
Exercise is another thing that has to be considered. Some of the disadvantages of this might be that one has to save some time so that he can exercise. Another disadvantage is that, if someone misses a day or two of exercise, he might be in a problem. People tend to overthink about that they have not been exercising since two days, and as a result increase the burden of stress. Some of the people find that their schedule contracts with the time they were supposed to exercise. As a result, the possibility of high glucose level increases. Exercises for example walking, swimming, or riding a bike can be very beneficial. Even spending 10 minutes for 3 times a day can be very beneficial to your body.
There are many challenges that diabetics person need to overcome, following a meal plan is one of them. People get tired after eating same thing again and again. Coming up with meal plan can be both challenging and fun. Diabetic person has to find a way out when his schedule is busy. Spending minimum of 30 minutes for exercises is very important. Also, resisting alcohol, cigarette and fast food are some of the factors that need to be kept away from a person. On the other hand, there are some advantages that affect both lifestyle and fitness because of diabetes. Some doctors called diabetes a ‘the healthiest disease’. The reason why they say is that because diabetic patient has to have a good meal plan and also has to be physically active. These cause them to lose weight and thereby are able to maintain their body. This is one of the advantages they find of being diabetic. Also, they feel good after all the exercise and fruits and vegetables they eat. They think that they are healthy, bringing the stress level way down.
Sports
One of the disadvantages of diabetes, is that proteins, carbohydrates, etc. essential minerals don’t get distributed within our body. When doing excessive exercise, our muscles need these minerals. As a result, there can be two difference cases here: diabetes bringing changes in distribution of minerals and exercise bringing changes in distribution of minerals. These can have opposite effects on our body. Exercising causes the blood glucose level to go down. But, on the other hand, there can be situations where it can result in high blood glucose level. These damages are to be stabilized by modifying medicines and food. If food and medicines are not changed, it can lead the person causing both high and low blood glucose level.
When exercising, our body tends to need more energy and as a result, our body releases glucose. For someone who is diabetic, he will need insulin to even out the glucose level. If he doesn’t have enough insulin, it can result in high glucose level. This is known as hyperglycemia. Some of the symptoms are thirsty, frequent urination, etc.
When our body doesn’t have enough insulin, to use up the glucose, it causes are body to release energy as a result, of burning fat. This is called ketones. When people have high levels of ketones, it is recommended that they should stop doing exercise because it makes you feel sick.
When exercise, the glucose level can also go really down and this is known as hypoglycaemia. When our body runs out of glucose, that is it cannot release more glucose, it causes low glucose level. Other factor that contributes is when the insulin level is high after you take an injection. In order to treat this, check for sugar level and eat a snack is possible. Symptoms include sweating, hungry, weak, shaky, etc.
That is why it is recommended that athletes running a marathon should stop and have something in order to stabilize the glucose level. Consuming about 15-30 grams of carbohydrate that is fast acting, for example, sport drink, juice, etc. can be beneficial. If not done this, the performance of the athlete will dramatically decrease.
Apart from this, diabetes is a disease that is responsible for blood clotting. Study shows that about 75% die because of clotting of the heart and blood vessels. When blood clot affects a place, it can no longer get the supply of oxygen. It can develop anywhere in our body. DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) is a dangerous disease. In veins of legs, pelvis, etc. develops blood cloth. Some of the factors that increase the risk of DVT are infection, smoking, obesity etc.
Diabetes is a very dangerous disease in a way if someone doesn’t take care of it. If someone gets cut near the foot region, the wound takes a lot of time to heal itself. In some of the cases, the region has to be cut because it cannot heal anymore and also in order to prevent more infection. This is something that is very dangerous. The rate of amputation is ten times higher than people without diabetes. But we can prevent it from happening: “You can’t always prevent an ulcer, but you almost always prevent an amputation” (Brem 2007). Because of diabetes, there is less blood flow and nerve destruction. When there is less blood flow, the white blood cells in our blood are not able to get to the located to heal. That’s why it takes way longer to heal. On the other hand, because of nerve damage, it will make it hard to feel your legs and feet. Because of it, pain, cold, or heat can’t be felt. This may get worst because we don’t usually look at your legs too often. That’s why it will also take us longer to find an injection. Shoes that are comfortable should be wear instead wearing uncomfortable shows, for example cowboy boots. Wearing uncomfortable shoes, can, for example, can cause the toenail to come off. Because of the lost senses, we might be able to tell if something went wrong while wearing it. Physical activity and good meal plan can prevent this from happening. Also washing and checking feet every time, don’t letting your foot to get dry and wearing comfortable footwear’s are some of the prevention steps that can be undertaken in order to prevent it.
Diabetes also has the ability to affect the eyes. When the glucose levels are high enough, blurred vision can be noticed making the eyes hard to focus. This is knows as diabetic retinopathy. As the name suggests changes take place in the retina because of the tiny blood vessels. When things get worse, parts of the retina die. The death parts are then replaced by new one which are fragile. This causes extreme bleeding into the eye and this causes to block the vision. This can lead someone to blindness. This disease is not so common. In order to treat it, laser technology is used which stops the growth of the new ones. Diabetic retinopathy can be prevented by controlling blood glucose level.
In conclusion, we can say that diabetes is both beneficial and deathly. It depends on the person itself how he wants to take care of it. Diabetic patients do live a normal life unlike any other without diabetes. A diabetic person should not be ashamed of him but instead should make others aware of good and bad consequences of diabetes.
Appendix
Greek salad is one of the easiest recipe that takes few minutes to prepare:
Ingredients:
- 2 cucumber
- 4 romaine tomatoes
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cup of yogurt
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cup of fresh mint
- 3 tablespoons of lemon juice
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cup of chopped scallions
- 1 oz. feta chees
- 2 olives
- 4 oz. romaine lettuce
- Cut and peel the cucumbers in 1/2 lengthwise. Take the seeds, then cut it into large pieces and throw it in the blender. Add the fresh min, lemon juice and yogurt.
- Cut tomatoes and cucumbers.
- In a large salad bowl, toss the lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, scallions, cheese, and still in the dressing.
- Garnish with an olive if desired.
- Nutrition Fact
- This website has more several recipes for a diabetic person.
Also, people find following this pyramid very helpful
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