Prevention and treatment strategies for diabetes include healthy eating, exercising and weight management. Monitoring blood sugar and adhering to medications are also crucial elements of managing this disease effectively.
Carb counting is an indispensable aspect of diabetic meal planning. By tracking what foods contain carbohydrates, patients can better control their glycemic index.
Type 1
Prevention strategies for those living with Type 1 diabetes focus on maintaining normalized blood sugar levels to defer or avoid complications. This means testing before meals and two hours after eating; testing regularly; as well as making sure their workplace accommodates their condition by providing sufficient breaks for testing or fast-access to food and drinks.
Carbohydrate counting involves carefully evaluating the carbohydrates present in food and drinks to match them to your insulin dose. Insulin transforms food and drink into glucose for energy production in your body; injections can be administered using either a syringe, pen or pumps.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys cells responsible for producing insulin, leading to an inadequate supply of the hormone. It can occur both in children and adults and its cause is still unknown.
Type 2
Sugar (glucose) comes from food and is transported in the blood to cells for energy usage. Insulin helps control blood sugar levels; if your body can’t produce or use enough insulin, diabetes occurs; without treatment it can damage nerves, eyes and kidneys permanently.
Most cases of type 2 diabetes can be avoided through maintaining a healthy weight, getting adequate rest and exercising regularly. Also essential in prevention are eating an anti-diabetics diet rich in nonstarchy vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean meat and oily fish.
Some risk factors for diabetes, like genetics and age, are beyond your control. But others such as lifestyle habits like sitting too much, poor diet choices and excess weight can be changed through treatment plans designed by health care providers that include regular checkups, diet and exercise changes as well as medications designed to manage it. It may be necessary to use both a glucose meter and continuous glucose monitoring system.
Cardiovascular
Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of mortality among people living with diabetes. Lifestyle modifications and medication can significantly lower this risk.
Individually, the most beneficial interventions from an individual perspective are those which reduce a person’s risk of cardiovascular events in the next decade; such as beta-blockers or statins to lower blood pressure or cholesterol levels respectively. But many other interventions also offer substantial health advantages.
Non-pharmacological therapies (MNT), particularly diet and physical activity recommendations such as viscous fibre, omega-3 fatty acids and low-fat dairy products (e.g. viscous fiber, omega-3s) that support healthy lifestyle choices can have positive impacts on glycemic control and plasma lipids levels, with potential positive ramifications on glycemic control and plasma lipids levels. They should be considered alongside pharmaceutical therapy treatments when managing mildly elevated blood pressure.
Aspirin can reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among individuals who have already experienced cardiovascular events (secondary prevention); however, evidence for its use as primary prevention remains mixed in those without prior cardiovascular events (57). A small dose may also prove useful as primary prevention in those with diabetes who also possess other CVD risk factors (57). Other effective preventive measures include getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night while maintaining a healthy weight; refraining from smoking; not engaging in unprotected sexual activities; as well as receiving pneumococcal vaccine (Tdap vaccine).
Neuropathy
Insulin transports glucose (sugar) from your blood into cells for use as energy. When your body can no longer make or use enough insulin correctly, diabetes arises. Untreated high blood sugar levels can damage nerves, eyes, kidneys and other organs; but complications can be minimized or delayed by maintaining as close to normal blood sugar levels as possible.
First and foremost, understanding what motivates you is key for creating new habits and becoming healthier – this will enable you to stick with your diabetes prevention plan even during times when things may get tough.
