Optimum control of diabetes can help you lead a near normal life

Almost all complications of diabetes are preventable

Diabetes control is predominantly with Diet and Exercise

What should I do to live healthy with diabetes?

Living with diabetes is not very difficult as people make it out to be. It involves regular blood sugar monitoring, eating healthy, leading an active life and good compliance to diabetic medications.

Monitoring Diabetes

Diabetes can be monitored at home with the help of easy to use blood sugar monitoring machines. Fasting glucose levels and glucose levels 2 hrs after food are commonly used to check if the control of the disease is optimal.

What is HbA1C?

HbA1C is a kind of diabetes memory test. It tests the level of blood sugar control in the preceding three months, by detecting the level of glucose in the red blood cells and is an essential monitoring tool for diabetes control. Ideally HbA1C should be checked once in 6 months for those with optimal diabetes control. 

What is an ideal diet for diabetics?

There is no one ideal diet that suits everyone, but there are certain basic principles for a healthy diet. The first principle is to eat small quantities in more frequent intervals. So instead of 3 heavy meals, eat about 5 small meals in a day with equal spacing between meals. Include large portions of boiled vegetables in your diet and have ONE fruit per day. Increase your consumption of oat meal and reduce eating fried oily food. Occasional splurge will not do much damage to your body, but that’s the key-keeping it occasional so that you do not miss the smaller pleasures of life.

Why is exercise important?

Exercise helps by reducing obesity which is an important cause for improper utilization of insulin. Also exercising muscles use much less insulin to absorb glucose, thereby giving you a double benefit. Add to that, the fact that exercise will help you to burn fat and thus reduce its accumulation in the blood vessels, thereby preventing most complications of diabetes, this is indeed a wonder drug. Active exercise for 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week, will not only add years to your life, but will also add life to your years.

What are drugs available for diabetes and their side effects?

It is very essential to remember that drugs are only an add on to diet and exercise and not a replacement. The various groups or drugs available are Oral Hypoglycemic Drugs, which primarily stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin. These drugs can cause the blood sugar levels to drop below normal levels, known as hypoglycemia and hence food should be consumed after drug intake. Hypoglycemia can be recognized by increased sweating, giddiness and extreme hunger. Always keep a pack of sugar handy in case you are hypoglycemic.  Biguanides are drugs that increase the sensitivity of the tissues to the available insulin, while also helping in weight loss. These drugs do not cause the blood sugar values to drop below normal and are hence safer. Some patients have stomach upset in the early stages of treatment with these drugs but usually adapt quickly. There are other drugs that help to reduce the absorption of glucose from the stomach.