Treatment for diabetes.
Diabetes is a multi-dimensional condition, since the range of the causes, risk
factors, symptoms and complications associated with the disease is
impressively wide.
Treatment of gestational diabetes and type1 or type 2 of the
disease aims to keep blood glucose level
under control and to prevent complications. If any of the latest have developed already,
an additional therapeutic plan will be required, according to the medical problem.
Below we will try to give a number of simple and straightforward guidelines for a
comprehensive diabetes treatment and we hope you will find them helpful. Some of the
following steps may help you to bring your blood sugar under control within an hour and
others will give longer term good results.
In any case, we want to make clear, the recommendations bellow should not be considered a
substitute to your doctor's advice. Your medical state must be monitored on a regular
basis by a healthcare provider, because every case is individual and has to be evaluated,
according to the person's medical characteristics.
 Medications and
other aids. It is very important to take your medications, herbal
preparations or any alternative remedy faithfully. Your pills or insulin must be taken at
the same time every day. If you do not do that, you will be at high risk to experience
wide and dangerous blood glucose fluctuations. You can try the insulin pens link, if you want to find such
devices online. You can also use the following links to find herbal and alternative remedies for diabetes or your
prescribed medications, including insulin.
Blood glucose
control. Check your blood glucose as recommended and keep detailed records
about the day and the time you did the measurements. You will need a glucose meter to
monitor your blood sugar. If you don’t have any, click the following link and you
will be advised how to find a glucose
meter online and how to use it.
Always remember to keep records, because information, like whether the sugar check was
done before or after a meal, exercise session or sleep, will help you and your doctor to
understand how well you manage diabetes. If the results are not as they were expected to
be, the treatment plan may need adjustments.
Diet and food
supplements. Follow the meal plan that your healthcare provider has set for
you. This plan must be followed consistently, since it is included in your general
diabetes treatment. Do not skip meals, especially the ones that follow your insulin
intake. Otherwise, your blood sugar will drop significantly and you may encounter a
hypoglycemic episode.
In general, the foods you are
allowed to eat are included in a typical healthy diet
plan. Prefer having meals low in fat, carbohydrates or salt and high in dietary fiber. Vegetables, grains, low-fat dairy
products, skinless poultry, fish, lean beef and pork are very few examples of dietary
options.
Studies have given evidence
that vanadyl sulfate,
chromium picolinate, biotin, pyridoxine, coenzyme Q10, magnesium, and copper can help in diabetes treatment. A supplementation plan may be useful. Before
taking any supplements you may have to ask your doctor first.
Physical
activity. Exercise on a regular basis. Physical activity is very important for effective
diabetes treatment. However, do not start any laborious exercise plan, before you consult
you physician, because it may not be appropriate for you. For instance, if you suffer
from heart problems or high blood pressure, weight
training may not be the safest exercise for you. In collaboration with your
healthcare team, something safe will be chosen.
Try to do aerobic exercise on a daily basis for
about half an hour. If you have not been very active recently, begin slowly. Start with
five to ten minutes per day and then add more time. Alternatively, you can exercise for
ten minutes, three times a day. If you take insulin, do not exercise just before you go
to sleep, because this may result in hypoglycemia, overnight. Check your blood glucose,
before, during and after exercising. For more information check the Diabetes and Exercise or the Prevention of Hypoglycemia
pages.
While exercising, walking or
working, always wear soft socks and very comfortable shoes, in order to prevent any
foot ulceration which may cause dangerous problems
and complications.
Physical
condition. Monitor and control body
weight, blood pressure and blood
cholesterol levels. The latest must be checked every one or two years, according to
your doctor's advice. Keep always in mind that obesity, hypertension and high LDL cholesterol are the best allies of diabetes
and make the treatment challenging.
Smoking. Do not smoke. You are fighting against a tough
enemy. It is not wise to burden your body with tobacco any further. Apart from increasing the
risk for cancer and cardiovascular
disease, smoking contributes to insulin resistance.
Alcohol
use. Reduce or give up drinking, if you suffer from diabetes. Alcohol has
caloric but no nutritional value. Drinking on
an empty stomach can make your blood glucose level to drop dramatically and lead to
serious hypoglycemic episodes. However, if you are determined to drink alcohol, seek for
advice. Your doctor will let you know the sequence and the quantity of alcohol you can
drink.  In general, it has been well accepted that one or two
glasses of red wine per day -but no more- are very beneficial.
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