Challenge of Managing Your Diabetes

If I ask you, what do you know about diabetes? Many people will say diabetes is a disease related to blood glucose levels. Some people may say diabetes is hereditary, some will say blood sugar gets high. Some will say diabetes is caused due to eating sweet food.  Yes, all these things are correct up to some level.

Clinically, diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how your body converts food into energy. You may feel perfectly well until complications occur thus; it is also named a ‘silent disease’. There is no cure for diabetes.

Diabetes Prevalence and its impact on health:

In 2021, the health ministry of India stated that 74.2 million people are suffering from diabetes, and this number will increase to 124.8 million by 2045. The number of adults with diabetes has doubled in the last 20 years.

• This disease is quite well-known as it is one of the leading causes of death worldwide.
• Adults with diabetes are more prone to heart attacks and strokes. 
• Diabetes also results in long-term accumulated damage to the small blood vessels in the retina and nearly 1 million people go blind.
• Diabetes is one of the leading causes of kidney failure.
• One of the main effects of diabetes is persistent nerve damage, called diabetic neuropathy—causing pain, numbness, or tingling sensations. Further, it may result in sexual dysfunction too.

Are you aware of the role of insulin in our body?

Glucose or sugar is the prime energy source that helps for building muscles and other tissues. Glucose gets secreted by two fundamental sources; one is the liver and another is food. The bloodstream absorbs the sugar, allowing it to enter the cells through insulin. Liver stores glucose in the form of glycogen. When the sugar level is low in your body is low for a significant amount of time, the liver tends to break down glycogen to glucose for maintaining your sugar level. 

You must have heard of the term Prediabetes. It is a serious health condition where your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but it’s not high enough to diagnose it as diabetes. Let’s go into the details. There are majorly 3 types of diabetes; Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes. What are they?

Type 1 diabetes: 

It is an autoimmune disease; it means the body attacks itself by mistake which causes the stoppage of insulin production. It’s usually diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults. If you want to survive with type 1 diabetes, there is only one option taking insulin every day. Till now there are no other prevention medicines. 

Type 2 diabetes: 

In type 2 diabetes, the body doesn’t use insulin well, and therefore blood sugar level doesn’t get maintained at normal levels. It is usually diagnosed in adults. It may not show any symptoms, hence, a blood sugar level test is the only option. With some lifestyle changes, you can prevent or delay diabetes. Regular exercise, eating healthy, maintaining weight, etc. will help you.

Gestational diabetes: 

It develops only in pregnant women who may not have had diabetes before. Gestational diabetes usually goes away once your baby is born. It may develop obesity in your baby during childhood and develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

Start ruling your glycemic control! Here are some essentials to manage your diabetes:

1. Manage your diet:

There is no such a concept as a ‘diabetes diet’, however, limiting your diet to low-fat, low-calorie, and nutritious foods may work.

• Use sugar alternatives: Stevia, dates, jaggery, maple syrup, and organic honey are examples of some natural sweeteners that don’t significantly affect your blood sugar levels. Explore a wide range of natural sugar substitutes at Apollo Pharmacy. However, it is better to consume them in moderation.
• Avoid dinner outings! But if planned, follow to drink a big glass once you reach there. Skip complimentary food. Don't order BBQ, glazed, or teriyaki from the menu. Always choose baked, steamed, grilled, or broiled instead of fried, crispy, or creamy to reduce fat and calories.
• Many people with diabetes count carbs to manage blood sugar easily. Carbs are measured in grams. 1 carb serving is about 15 grams of carbs. Don’t confuse carbs with servings. Your nutritionist will educate you on this better, based on what you eat regularly.
• Consume fruits, vegetables, and beans which are high in fiber.
• Protein and fats are digested slower than carbs in our bodies. Prevent blood sugar spikes by pairing carbs with protein and fat.
• Grandma’s Remedies

1. Bay leaves, curry leaves and basil juice on empty stomach maintain low sugar levels throughout the day.
2. Walnuts reduce inflammation, blood sugar, and LDL levels. 
3. Cinnamon, fenugreek seeds, and black pepper decoction on empty stomach or before bedtime keep your cholesterol in check.
4. The bitter guard has blood-purifying qualities and is a great source to cure skin problems.
5. Jamun is a mineral and vitamin-rich fruit. It keeps your eyesight safe. It also has cancer-preventive properties.  Buy Karela Jamun Juice from Apollo anytime anywhere and keep your blood sugar under control. 

More than what you eat when and how you eat is a game changer! Eating at the right time is very important. Have small meals rather than 1 or 2 big meals throughout the day. It helps in avoiding post-pyramidal peaks in blood sugar.

2. Address your stress: Reduce your stress by reading a book, engaging in a hobby, or spending time with nature. An effective step to stress-relief decreases the severity of diabetes.

3. Maintain body weight: 30 minutes of exercise a day is an essential part of diabetes care. Include rhythmic movement for large muscle groups such as walking, jogging, and cycling.

4. Have good sleep:p: 7 to 9 hours of sleep is optimal to keep blood sugars balanced.

When you don’t have any idea how and from where to start, it’s quite challenging to live with diabetes and manage your blood sugar. Eating a balanced diet and adopting a healthy, active, stress-free lifestyle slows down the progression of diabetes.