Living healthy with diabetes- your daily mantra
Living with diabetes can be easy and smooth! All one has to do is adopt a few the health promoting habits, and incorporate the same in their lifestyles. American Diabetes Association suggests managing this condition well, can help you deal with diabetes emotionally, physically, mentally and you can surely come out with flying colors.
Here’s a quick guide
Self-care
We understand you may be habitual of your spouse/family taking care of you. Diabetes management encourages people living with diabetes to take help from family and friends. But there is only a certain extent to which your doctor and family members can help you. If you want to lead a healthy life despite diabetes, you have to begin “self-caring” yourself. Take your own blood sugar levels at home, use alarm clocks on mobile phone to remind you to take medications on time. Start maintaining your body weight, and eat frequently but watch out what you are eating.
Avoid Smoking
As you may already know Diabetes is a chronic condition, in which the chances of complications increases manifolds if you are a smoking beyond limit. Smoking causes changes in the blood vessels in your body, which can lead to faulty blood flow to organs and limbs. We are definitely not trying to scare you but research hints that “this” may result in ulcer formation and even amputations of limbs. Besides the already known, smoking increases the odds of heart diseases, kidney malfunction, eye conditions and nervous problems to manifolds. To avoid the above complications you may choose to join a smoking cessation programme if you are a habitual smoker and you want to quit.
Keep a check on your blood pressure
Diabetes is one of the most common risk factors for hypertension (increased blood pressure). In order to avoid heart problems, it is imperative to have to your blood pressure checked regularly. If you have high blood pressure, avoid salty- (sodium loaded) foods and alcoholic beverages. Instead exercise regularly and also cut a little on caffeine consumption.
Watch Your Diet
After consultation with the endocrinologist to determine the status of your disease, make an appointment with a registered dietitian to come up with a plan for the management of diabetes. However imposing it may sound, most of the people do not have to make huge changes in their diet. Limiting the amount of carbohydrate-containing foods, consuming healthy fats and eating less sodium help achieve the target sugar levels.
Kick Into Action
What’s your plan for the day? Did you include walking, jogging, cycling and yoga atleast for 45 minutes? If not we urge you to do it now. An ideal plan should include aerobic or cardiovascular exercises, resistance training and stretching in order to enhance the sensitivity of the cells to insulin.
Keep Your Supplies Close By
Whether you are travelling or are at home, keep your medicines, glucometer and insulin (if you take it) handy. Store them at a cold place away from light so that their efficacy is not affected.
Watch Out for Hypoglycaemia
Low blood sugar levels can strike at any time especially when your level of physical activity is high, while travelling, for instance. Always keep glucose tablets or candies with you for times like these.
Let Others Know
Letting people around you know about your disease can turn out to be more advantageous than embarrassing, since it can help others provide you with prompt treatment in times of need. This is especially true while travelling, working, gymming or partying. Knowing about your disease, people are bound to be more careful around you, for instance over drinking or having sweets can be easily avoided by gentle reminders from colleagues and friends
Be Vigilant
Some of the people loosen the control once they attain the targeted sugar levels thinking that the condition has been eradicated. A gentle reminder! Diabetes is a progressive disease and any negligence in the diabetes management can prove to be damaging. You are advised not to ignore or take your condition for granted instead keep a vigilant eye on your condition even after attaining target results.
Reach Out
Seeking help from diabetes support groups gives people and families living with diabetes a power booster. Support groups not only help you and your family coping up with this condition, but also tell you the right ways to deal with this condition emotionally and physically.
Chant your mantra daily and stay on top of your condition!
Citations
American Diabetes Association
Diabetes Association U.K
Everyday health, USA
