As an endocrinologist who has been working in clinical practice for many years, I have met all kinds of diabetic patients. Every day in the outpatient clinic, there are always impressive cases. Today, I would like to share a common misconception about diabetes and an actual patient story, hoping to help you understand and treat this condition more scientifically. Not long ago, a middle-aged male patient came to my office in a hurry. He had just been diagnosed with diabetes and his face was full of anxiety. He told me that he thought he had "too many impurities in his blood" and needed hemodialysis (hemofiltration) to "clean the blood." His idea may have stemmed from some misinformation on the Internet. In his opinion, hemodialysis will not only solve his diabetes problem, but also allow him to return to a healthy state. Faced with this situation, I first calmed him down and began a process of education and communication. I explained the basics of diabetes, including how it affects the body and how high blood sugar does not equate to impurities in the blood. In fact, diabetes management involves diet, exercise, medications, and regular check-ups, while hemodialysis is used to treat some serious kidney disease, not the standard treatment for diabetes.
Diabetes basics
What is diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by abnormally high blood sugar levels. This is mainly because the body cannot use or produce insulin efficiently. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas and is responsible for helping our cells absorb glucose from the blood for energy. Depending on its causes and characteristics, there are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes: usually occurs in children or adolescents where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes: more common and usually related to age, weight, and lifestyle. In this case, the body can't use insulin efficiently, or the pancreas can't produce enough insulin. Blood Sugar and Blood ImpuritiesWhen facing diabetes treatment, I often hear patients talk about "impurities in the blood". To be clear, the so-called blood impurities are not a medical term, and this may be a misconception of the hyperglycemic state caused by diabetes. In people with diabetes, blood sugar is elevated because the body's insulin is underactive or absent, not because of some "impurity" in the blood. Understanding this basic medical information is essential for diabetic patients to avoid misunderstandings and take more scientific and rational treatment and management methods. In the following sections, we will further explore the role of hemodialysis in diabetes management, if any, and how to properly manage this common chronic disease.
Medical explanation of hemodialysis (hemofiltration).
What is hemodialysisHemodialysis, often referred to simply as hemofiltration, is a medical procedure that removes waste and excess water from the blood through a machine. This technique is mainly used to treat acute or chronic renal failure, in which the kidneys are unable to perform their filtering function properly. During dialysis, blood is directed into a machine to remove toxins, excess salt, and water through a semi-permeable membrane before returning the clean blood to the body. Hemodialysis and DiabetesAlthough hemodialysis is effective in removing harmful substances from the blood, it is not a cure for diabetes. Diabetes is caused by the body's inability to effectively use and store glucose from food, resulting in persistently high blood sugar, not because of "impurities" in the blood. The main treatment strategies for people with diabetes should include control of blood glucose levels, dietary management, moderate exercise, and medication if necessary. Hemodialysis may be used in people with diabetes to manage complications caused by diabetes, such as advanced diabetic nephropathy, when the kidneys are severely damaged and unable to remove toxins from the body on their own. However, for the vast majority of people with diabetes, hemodialysis is not a direct treatment for diabetes or blood sugar control.
The right approach to diabetes management
Dietary modification: Limit your intake of foods high in sugar, such as sweetened drinks, sweets, desserts, and some fruits. Balanced nutrition: Increase dietary fiber intake and eat more whole grains, legumes, vegetables and nuts. Eat regularly and quantitatively: Eat on time and avoid overeating, especially at dinner, to avoid a rise in blood sugar at night. Moderate exercise: Exercise regularly: At least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling. Increase muscle training: Resistance training, such as lifting weights, 2-3 times a week, can help improve insulin sensitivity. Avoid sitting for long periods of time: Stand up for 5-10 minutes every hour to promote more stable blood sugar.
Individualized drug therapy: Depending on the patient's specific situation, the doctor will prescribe appropriate oral hypoglycemic drugs or insulin therapy. Adjust the dose regularly: Regular follow-up visits to adjust the dose of the drug based on the results of blood glucose monitoring. Follow the doctor's instructions: Use the drug strictly according to the doctor's instructions, and do not increase or decrease the dosage or stop the drug by yourself. Check your blood sugar regularly and self-monitor: Use a home blood glucose meter to check your blood sugar regularly, especially if you are eating or exercising, or if your condition changes. Professional Assessment: Visit your doctor every 3 to 6 months for a comprehensive assessment of diabetes management. Screening for complications: Fundus examination, renal function test, and foot examination should be performed at least once a year to detect and manage possible complications in a timely manner. By doing so, people with diabetes can not only control their blood sugar, but also improve their overall health and reduce their risk of serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, etc. Proper diabetes management is a lifestyle shift that requires the combined efforts of the patient, family, and medical team.