Diabetes, a chronic disease, has brought a lot of trouble to the daily lives of many patients. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in ten adults worldwide has diabetes. However, as long as we have the right daily care methods and precautions, we can effectively manage the condition and improve the quality of life.
Before you manage it, you need to know how diabetes forms!
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia. Its formation is usually associated with insufficient insulin action or a weakened body's response to insulin. According to the formation mechanism and characteristics, diabetes can be divided into the following types:
1. Type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes)
Immune-mediated: The autoimmune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing β cells in the pancreas.
Genetic factors: Certain genes are involved in the development of type 1 diabetes.
Environmental factors, such as viral infections, can trigger abnormalities in the immune system.
2. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (non-insulin-dependent diabetes)
Insulin resistance: The body's muscles, liver, and fat cells respond to insulin weakly, resulting in insulin's inability to effectively move blood sugar inside the cells.
Decreased function of pancreatic β islet cells: Over time, islet β cells do not produce enough insulin to overcome insulin resistance.
Poor lifestyle habits: including unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, excessive obesity, etc.
Genetic factors: People with a family history of type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop the disease.
3. Gestational diabetes
Hormonal changes: During pregnancy, hormonal changes in the body can lead to increased insulin resistance.
Genetic and environmental factors: Similarly, genetics and poor lifestyle can also contribute to diabetes during pregnancy.
The process of formation:
1. Establishment of insulin resistance: Due to genetics, lifestyle and other factors, the body's ability to respond to insulin gradually decreases.
2. Increased burden on the pancreas: In order to maintain normal blood sugar levels, the pancreas needs to secrete more insulin.
3. Pancreatic failure: Long-term overload can eventually lead to pancreatic β cell failure.
4. Persistent increase in blood sugar: With insufficient or incomplete insulin secretion, blood sugar cannot effectively enter the cells to be utilized, resulting in persistent hyperglycemia.
5. Development of complications: Long-term existence of hyperglycemia can lead to a variety of complications, such as retinopathy, kidney disease, etc.
Controlling diabetes involves comprehensive management, including dietary modification, moderate exercise, medication and other efforts.
Healthy diet: Reasonable mix and balanced nutrition
Diet is the foundation of diabetes management. Patients should follow the principle of low-sugar, low-fat, and high-fiber diet, eat regular and quantitative meals, chew slowly, and avoid overeating. Here are some specific dietary recommendations:
1. Control the total calorie intake: According to the patient's gender, age, height and weight, calculate the total calorie requirement per day and distribute it to three meals reasonably.
2. Balanced nutrition: The staple food should be based on coarse grains, and the appropriate intake of high-quality protein, such as milk, eggs, beans, etc.; At the same time, eat more foods rich in dietary fiber, such as various leafy vegetables, bean sprouts, kelp, fungi and algae, etc.
3. Low-salt diet: The daily salt intake per person should be controlled within 6 grams, and excessive intake of high-sodium foods such as pickles and pickled products should be avoided.
4. Eat less high-sugar and high-fat foods: such as candy, cakes, fatty meat, animal offal, etc., these foods can easily lead to high blood sugar, which is not conducive to disease control.
For people with diabetes, a healthy diet should be low in sugar, salt, and fat, rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. The diet should maintain a reasonable caloric balance and avoid excessive hunger or oversatiety. Food intake should be consistent with factors such as medication and physical activity.
Regular exercise: Exercise moderately to enhance your physique
Exercise is one of the most important tools for diabetes management. Patients should choose appropriate exercise methods according to their own conditions, such as walking, jogging, swimming, etc., to enhance the body's sensitivity to insulin and lower blood sugar. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Moderate exercise intensity: Avoid strenuous exercise that causes low blood sugar or physical discomfort.
2. Exercise time is reasonable: It is best to exercise 1-2 hours after meals to reduce the burden on the stomach and intestines.
3. Dress comfortably: Choose breathable, loose-fitting clothing and appropriate athletic footwear to reduce sports injuries.
In addition to dietary control, regular exercise is also one of the beneficial ways to care for diabetes. Exercise can help the body use insulin better, which can help control blood sugar levels. At least 150 minutes per week.
Monitor your blood sugar: Keep up to date with changes in your condition
1. Regular monitoring: Use a blood glucose meter to check your blood sugar levels regularly, fasting in the morning and two hours after meals. Write it down, observe trends, and share this valuable information with your doctor.
2. Pay attention to body signals: Learn to listen to body language, such as frequent thirst, polyuria, fatigue, etc., which may be signals of blood sugar fluctuations, and adjust your lifestyle or seek medical advice in time.
Diabetic patients should have their blood glucose and A1C levels checked regularly to monitor their diabetes control. Adjust your medication use as recommended by your doctor to keep your blood sugar in the ideal range.
Pay attention to details and stay away from misunderstandings
In addition to the above points, diabetic patients should also pay attention to the following daily care and precautions:
1. Maintain good personal hygiene: bathe frequently, change clothes frequently, keep your skin clean and dry, and avoid trauma and infection.
2. Foot care: Check the condition of your feet regularly, keep your feet clean and dry, wear loose and comfortable shoes and socks, and avoid standing and walking for a long time. If there are foot ulcers and other lesions, you should seek medical treatment in time.
3. Regular work and rest: Ensure adequate sleep time and avoid staying up late and overwork.
4. Quit smoking and limit alcohol: Tobacco and alcohol are harmful to people with diabetes, so they should be avoided as much as possible.
5. Regular physical examination: Regularly check blood glucose, blood pressure, blood lipids and other related examinations to keep abreast of changes in the condition.
Myths to avoid for diabetics
1. Neglect of dietary management: Thinking that as long as you take your medication or inject insulin on time, you can not control your diet. In fact, dietary management is the foundation and key to diabetes management.
2. Excessive exercise: Thinking that more exercise is better, ignoring exercise intensity and time. Excessive exercise can lead to low blood sugar or physical injury.
3. Stopping or changing drugs at will: Stopping or changing drugs at will if they think that the side effects of the drugs are large or the effect is not obvious. This can easily lead to fluctuations in the condition and waste of medications.
4. Ignoring psychological adjustment: Thinking that as long as the body is okay, you can ignore psychological adjustment. In fact, psychological adjustment is just as important for the recovery and prognosis of people with diabetes.
The day-to-day care and precautions of people with diabetes are multifaceted and require the joint efforts of patients and families. Through reasonable dietary management, moderate exercise, medication as prescribed, and positive mindset adjustment, we can effectively control diabetes and improve the quality of life.