The world will once again spend time talking about diabetes on World Diabetes Day (November 14).^th). While we all encourage ourselves to get tested for diabetes even if we don’t have any suspicious symptoms, we should also remember ways to enjoy life to the fullest once we already have the disease.

Type 1 diabetes (an autoimmune disease not related to lifestyle), gestational diabetes (occurring during pregnancy. More than 40% may become diabetic in the future) and diabetes due to other causes such as tumors, etc. exist, but we will focus on the most common variety. which is type 2 diabetes. The tips given below will, however, benefit all diabetics.

Type 2 diabetes can appear gradually and the majority of its victims have a problem with insulin resistance. In this scenario, although the pancreas produces adequate amounts of insulin, the body’s cells do not respond appropriately, resulting in high blood sugar levels, but the cells “starve”; a classic case of hunger in the midst of plenty.

Yes, oral medications can help many people with type 2 diabetes, but the extreme pressure on the pancreas to produce insulin (as some oral medications can do) will eventually wear it out, hence a insulin therapy which may become necessary later in life. If you have diabetes, don’t avoid discussing insulin therapy, it can save your life.

Very often our goal when it comes to diabetes is to check our blood sugar. Although this is a good practice, there is much more to this disease and I would encourage all diabetics and even those who prevent diabetes to follow at least the ten (10) steps below:

1. Check your blood sugar
   

   1. Yes, checking your blood sugar after a fast (Fasting Blood Sugar) is good, but a more holistic approach will sometimes be to check your blood sugar after meals (e.g. 2 hours after meals). This also gives a good idea of ​​how quickly your body handles a “sugar” load.
   2. HbA1C is another crucial test. This does not require fasting and it tells us your sugar control over a two to three month period.

2. Control your blood pressure

   1. Check often and aim for readings below 130/80 mmHg.

3. Keep cholesterol at bay

   1. Should all diabetics take cholesterol-lowering medication? We have been discussing this for years.
   2. Keep your numbers in check

4. Protect your eyes

   1. At least once a year, have your eyes examined to reduce the risk of eye complications.
   2. Changes signifying poor control can be detected here very early

5. Protect your kidneys

   1. Have your urine checked for small amounts of protein (microalbuminuria) and get treatment if necessary.
   2. Don’t ignore kidney function tests – a blood test

6. Take care of your feet

   1. Inspect your feet daily at least in the morning and before bed.
   2. Avoid shoes that are too tight-fitting
   3. Take extreme precautions when trimming your nails.
   4. When you exercise, make sure your feet are pampered.

7. Control your weight

   1. Any excess fat can contribute to insulin resistance. Let’s get rid of it!
   2. If you are underweight, talk to a dietitian to help you achieve the ideal weight for your height.

8. Exercise appropriately and regularly

   1. Try to exercise for more than 30 minutes a day most days
   2. Include weight training to build muscle and in doing so “burn” more fat and also use blood sugar.
   3. Exercise helps control weight and increases tissue sensitivity to insulin.

9. Eat well

   1. You will make little or no progress without a healthy diet
   2. Reducing your calorie intake will lead to fat loss.
   3. Be careful of sugar and refined products like white rice and white bread.
   4. Eat plenty of fiber-rich foods, including beans, fruits, and vegetables. Stick to low-fat dairy products (e.g. milk).
   5. Avoid processed meat, snacks and foods high in salt.

10. Consult a knowledgeable healthcare professional regularly

    1. Never assume that you know everything and will therefore self-medicate using information from the internet, etc.
    2. See your doctor regularly and if you are taking medications, take them as prescribed or get a second opinion if you are unhappy with your care.

Our goal should be strict blood sugar control to avoid or minimize complications. Since diabetes is a chronic disease, we must make a lifelong commitment to following the steps above (the bare minimum), but I dare say the benefits will ALWAYS justify the effort.

We all need to do at least one simple thing to screen a group of people for diabetes, organize a diabetes awareness session, or run a program that helps prevent or control diabetes.

AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERY DAY AND REMEMBER THIS IS A PRICELESS GIFT FOR KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)

Dr Kojo Cobba Essel

Health Essentials Ltd (HE&W Group)

([email protected])

*Dr. Essel is a physician with a keen interest in lifestyle medicine. He holds an MBA and is an ISSA specialist in exercise therapy, physical nutrition and corrective exercises. He is the author of the award-winning book “Unraveling The Essentials of Health & Wealth”.

Thought of the Week – “This year and beyond, don’t just read about diabetes, help raise awareness, get tested for diabetes, and organize a group exercise session. »

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Reference:

1. Patient Education Center – Harvard Medical School