Diabetes is a challenging disease. It is a chronic condition that impairs your body’s ability to use food and convert it onto energy with the help of insulin. As a result, it not only necessitates taking medication for the rest of your life to regulate insulin function but also carries the risk of major health issues resulting from the disease. In rare cases, diabetes even results in premature deaths.
However, the good news is that you can manage this condition to keep complications at bay, especially if you have type 2 diabetes. In this post, we will discuss science-backed ways to manage and prevent diabetes and related complications in the long run:
Schedule Frequent Visits
It would help if you planned on seeing your doctor anywhere from twice to four times per year. You may need to attend the clinic more frequently if you are insulin-dependent or require assistance maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. Additionally, ensure you have a yearly checkup for your eyes, kidneys, and body.
Self-managed care is critical in the case of diabetes, and nurses are on the frontline of providing the necessary information to patients. New standards of care are published annually by the American Diabetic Association for nurses and patients to manage the disease. However, more than 37 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes, and approximately 84 million are at risk of developing diabetes. This formidable number has fuelled a demand for professionals specialized in the field of diabetes. Anyone interested in pursuing a career as a diabetic nurse must complete a Bachelor’s and Master of Science in Nursing. Nowadays, candidates enroll in accelerated bachelor’s programs given in the list of second degree nursing programs to cut down on the initial time they spend in school. Secondly, you must get 500 hours of experience and then acquire your advanced diabetes management certificate to become a specialist Diabetes Nurse.
Diabetes Specialist Nurses (DSNs) guide patients in preventing and managing diabetes by making changes to their lifestyle, specifically, weight loss through exercise and, most important, meal planning.
Leverage Meal Planning
Diet is instrumental in keeping the diabetes patients’ blood glucose levels in check. Therefore, patients should pay close attention to what they eat. Medical nutrition therapy is a systematic approach to a patient’s overall diet and eating habits. Registered nurses who specialize in diabetes work with patients to establish meal plans and timetables as part of medical nutrition therapy. The core objectives of these professionals are to limit hyperglycemic episodes and incorporate the right diet into the patient’s routine. Following a well-documented report, when their meals are well scheduled, type 2 diabetes patients’ A1c levels could be reduced by 2 percent to 3 percent in just six months.
However, several studies failed to establish the optimal macronutrient composition for diabetic meal planning. The optimal proportions of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats vary depending on each individual’s situation.
Quit Smoking
Smoking can exacerbate the difficulty of managing diabetes. It is difficult to control your blood sugar levels when you are high on nicotine. As a result, smokers with diabetes frequently require higher insulin dosages to maintain their blood sugar levels within the normal range. According to research, diabetes patients who smoke are twice as likely to die early as those who do not.
Indeed, bidding farewell to cigarettes could be a tough nut to crack, especially if you have been smoking for a long time. You are under no obligation to stop smoking right away. Figure out a strategy and stick to it. One of the practical approaches is making stuff like matches, lighters, and ashtrays inaccessible for yourself. The key is to make smoking as inconvenient as possible.
Keep trying if you cannot quit the first time. And if you mess up, do not be too harsh on yourself. Quitting the smoking habit may require multiple attempts before it becomes permanent. Moreover, you do not need to undertake this lofty objective alone; you can enlist the assistance of close relatives and friends to support your efforts.
Exercise Daily
Excessive glucose levels characterize type 2 diabetes due to inadequate insulin production or improper insulin utilization. Either way, exercise can lower your blood glucose levels. When you are working out, your muscles use glucose without insulin.
Medical experts recommend diabetes patients engage in the following exercise. They are not only easy to adapt but also ensure you stay on top of diabetes management:
- Walking: Walking is the most common form of exercise. It is also strictly suggested for individuals with diabetes. Regular brisk walking for around 30 minutes is an excellent way to boost physical activity. If you find it difficult to walk 30 minutes straight, consider breaking them down into three 10-minute sessions.
- Yoga: For centuries, yoga has been helping people to attain flexibility and increase strength and balance. According to the American Diabetes Association, yoga may also be useful in lowering blood sugar levels by increasing muscle mass.
- Tai Chi: This Chinese workout involves smooth and slow physical movements. It improves blood sugar control to a great degree. Diabetes patients who engage in this exercise also report improved energy, vitality, and mental health.
- Swimming: Swimming is beneficial for diabetes patients primarily because it helps stretch and relax muscles without putting stress on joints. If you want to make the most of swimming, go thrice a week. As a final precaution, inform the pool lifeguard that you have diabetes.
If you are dealing with a chronic illness like diabetes, it is easy to put exercise on the back burner. Hence, make it a point to schedule a specific time for your exercise like any other must-do task.
Reduce Weight
Weight around your waist means that fat has accumulated around your vital organs, such as the liver and pancreas. This build-up will lead to insulin resistance. So shedding off pounds means optimal functioning of insulin. When you start losing weight, the medical professionals might need to review your medication, particularly if you treat your diabetes with insulin or sulphonylurea.
In type 1 diabetes, dropping even a few pounds could make a big difference in your health and insulin injections. In type 2 diabetes, decreasing roughly 5% of your weight can result in amazing health benefits. Weight loss of at least 15 kilograms in the immediate aftermath of your diagnosis is the best way to put your diabetes into remission. People even report feeling better and having more energy after losing weight.
If you have diabetes, you are more likely to suffer from a condition known as sleep apnea, which causes incorrect breathing while you sleep. According to a study published in Frontiers in Neurology, obstructive sleep apnea affects as many as 71% of diabetic patients with type 2 diabetes. According to the experts, weight loss can help those with obstructive sleep apnea sleep better.
Conclusion
Diabetes is a debilitating condition that requires medical attention. Diabetes management requires a 24-hour commitment from the patient. As a person with diabetes, you can lower life-threatening complications by walking the tight line of the tips listed above.
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