Diabetics need to be highly alert to their health and take active treatment measures. Doing so can effectively avoid a variety of acute and chronic complications, thereby improving quality of life and improving long-term health expectations.
However, it is also important to treat diabetes in moderation and avoid overreactions, which may lead to new health problems.
1. Avoid excessive lowering of blood sugar
While people with diabetes are often concerned about high blood sugar, the risk of low blood sugar should not be overlooked.
Mild symptoms of hypoglycemia include palpitation, sweating, dizziness, and weakness, while severe hypoglycemia may cause damage to the central nervous system, leading to impaired consciousness, coma, and even death.
Hypoglycemia may also increase sympathetic excitability, leading to vasoconstriction and increased blood pressure, which can cause cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction and cerebral thrombosis.
In addition, long-term chronic hypoglycemia can also lead to cognitive impairment and even dementia. Therefore, caution should be exercised when controlling blood sugar levels so as not to lower blood sugar excessively.
2. Avoid excessive dieting
Excessive dieting or a monolithic diet can cause malnutrition, anemia, and starvation ketosis, which weaken the body's ability to resist and repair itself. In addition, excessive dieting may cause hypoglycemia, which subsequently leads to a rebound rise in blood glucose levels, which is detrimental to stable blood sugar control.
Overall, dietary control should be more accurately referred to as "dietary therapy" or "dietary modification", with the goal of maintaining a healthy weight range.
3. Avoid excessive exercise
Exercise is an important part of a comprehensive diabetes treatment plan. However, when performing exercise, it is necessary to pay attention to the method and intensity, increasing it gradually so as not to have adverse reactions.
Strenuous exercise (anaerobic exercise) may stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and increase the release of insulin-antagonistic hormones such as catecholamines, which can lead to an increase in blood sugar levels. If you exercise too long or too intense, especially on an empty stomach, you may greatly increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Also, exercise is not suitable for all people with diabetes, especially those with extremely high blood sugar levels, impaired kidney function, cardiac insufficiency or angina, and fundus hemorrhage.
Therefore, before starting an exercise program, diabetic patients should have a comprehensive physical examination to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the exercise program.
4. Don't overthink
People with diabetes often suffer from a heavy psychological burden, frequent insomnia, and anxiety and pessimism, which can lead to elevated or unstable blood sugar levels.
Therefore, it is essential to face diabetes correctly: neither ignore its seriousness nor be overly afraid, remain calm and mentally balanced. Such a mindset helps to keep blood sugar levels stable.
5. Avoid excessive weight loss
While weight loss can help improve insulin resistance and enhance the effects of glucose-lowering medications, excessive pursuit of weight loss is not ideal.
A standard body weight contributes to the maintenance of good nutritional status and immune function. Excessive thinness may reduce the liver's glycogen stores, weaken the ability to regulate hypoglycemia, and increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
6. Avoid staying up too late
Staying up late can cause damage to the body in many ways, including accelerated aging and affecting the function of various organs. For diabetics, staying up late can also lead to instability in blood sugar and blood pressure.
Therefore, diabetics are advised to maintain a regular sleep schedule and ensure adequate sleep to maintain overall health and blood sugar control.