Diabetes: All you need to know

“If wealth is lost nothing is lost, but if health is lost something is definitely lost.” 

We all have heard this proverb at some point in our lives. But we realize the importance of health only when we are either going through some health issue or diagnosed with one. Speaking of health, diabetes is one of the largest global health issues that more and more people are diagnosed with. 

Diabetes has become a common name in every household today. And the strangest thing is that we are not completely aware of the basics of managing diabetes. So many superstitions and misconceptions come along with diabetes. So, when recently I had the chance to attend the live event session organized by Blogchatter on diabetes I was very glad. 

The session was named as managing the ‘3 Ms’ – Monitoring, Menu & Making a Move for managing Diabetes. 

Today I would like to share details I learned from the event so that it is helpful to you. 

Let us begin with the background. 

Diabetes in India

It came to me as a surprise that India stands second in the world for diabetes. There are about 69.2 million people in India diagnosed with diabetes and an additional 36.5 million with prediabetes. 

Source: https://www.nhp.gov.in/overview-of-diabetes-burden_mtl

Diabetes Management

One thing I learned in the event was that diabetes is manageable with proper glucose monitoring, exercise, and a balanced diet with nutrition, so neither your life nor the lives of your loved ones need to be defined by diabetes. 

Types of Diabetes

One of my major learnings about diabetes was that there are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. It is very important in diabetes treatment that the patient along with the doctor is equally involved in the process. The will of the patient, his or her discipline, and control hold a huge weightage in the treatment as there are a lot of changes in lifestyle and eating habits involved in diabetes. Also, monitoring one’s blood glucose levels is a very important way to keep it on track. 

Risks involved

I had heard from my elders that diabetes is one issue that impacts your body deeply . You never know about the risks it involves. So, if the patient isn’t following a dietary plan and has poor glucose control, he/she might be at a higher risk. 

The complications include nerve problems, heart diseases, retinopathy, and foot ulcers. Additionally, Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for the majority of the cases, can lead to multi-organ complications.

Here is what I learned:

There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Both of these are stated by higher than normal blood sugar levels. These two have different causes, treatments, and symptoms. These cannot be treated similarly. 

If or when you are going through fluctuating glucose levels, it can be a constant source of concern and additional stress. Therefore, it is important to know what are the changes one should make in their lifestyle that can help them to manage their glucose levels better.

Here are some important factors that affect glucose levels:

Diet

There is no surprise that diet is the most essential factor in affecting glucose levels. Healthy eating is important in glucose management. It is said that one should consult their doctor or dietitian about the best food choices and the appropriate balance of food types.

Staying Active

An active lifestyle helps you control and manage your glucose levels better. 

Stress Management

When you’re stressed, the hormones your body produces in response to prolonged stress may cause a rise in your glucose level. Additionally, it can make you forget to take your medication or eat on time. Make activities and relaxation techniques like deep breathing and yoga part of your daily routine to keep stress at bay. 

Proper Glucose Monitoring

Now that you and I are aware of the various factors that can affect your glucose levels, it is time to know how often one should monitor glucose levels. 

Opt for using a simple yet highly effective continuous glucose monitoring to monitor how your stress levels and other factors such as diet and exercise can impact glucose levels. Continuous glucose monitoring can be done without any pricks, the device usage is convenient and very useful when you are on the go. 

Conclusion

Taking care of diabetes and its management is very doable – constantly monitoring your blood sugar levels, eating nutritious foods, and getting adequate exercise. 

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