Diabetes patient foot care
Four simple steps to control diabetes
With just four steps, it is possible to live a healthy and long life with diabetes. By following the steps you can control diabetes as well as avoid various health complications.
Step 1: Learn about diabetes
It is also important to have an idea of how to stay healthy with diabetes. For this you need to know some things. E.g.
- What kind of change in lifestyle
- What kind of food to eat
- How to take diabetes medicine
- How to take insulin
- How to measure blood sugar while sitting at home
- When to measure blood sugar
- When to go to the hospital
- What are the most effective ways to bring about these changes in a patient’s own lifestyle?
The doctor can give you the best advice on these issues. So talk to him and find out the details.
Step 2: Learn about the ABCs of diabetes
Consult a doctor on how to control ABCs of diabetes. What is meant by ABCs is:
- A : Hb A 1C, abbreviated A 1C ( A One C) test
- B : B lood pressure or blood pressure
- C : C holesterol is the amount of fat in the blood
- s : Smoking, that is, the way to quit smoking
By controlling these, it is possible to reduce the risk of heart attack and other complications of diabetes, including brain stroke.
A: A One C test
A1C test or HbA1C test is a type of blood test. This test measures the average blood sugar level in the last 3 months. This test is different from the one used to measure blood sugar with a normal glucometer.
In many diabetics, the A1C target is usually less than 8.5%. However, these goals are different for each person. Consult a doctor about what should be the right target for you.
B: Blood pressure
The force exerted by the blood on the walls of the blood vessels during the flow of blood through the blood vessels is called blood pressure.
When blood pressure rises too much, the heart has to work harder to circulate the blood. This can lead to heart attack, brain stroke, kidney disease and eye damage.
Blood pressure targets should generally be below 140/90. But if your doctor sets a different goal, that’s what you need to follow.
C: The amount of cholesterol
There are two types of cholesterol in the blood: LDL and HDL. Of these, LDL is called ‘harmful’ cholesterol. This is because it accumulates inside the blood vessels and prevents blood flow. HDL, on the other hand, is called ‘good’ cholesterol. Because it helps to remove ‘harmful’ cholesterol from the blood.
So to control cholesterol levels, regular blood tests called ‘fasting lipid profile’ should be done.
Cholesterol targets may vary from person to person. Find out from your doctor what should be the right target for you. If you are not on target, you need to consult a doctor for cholesterol control.
s: Smoking
Smoking raises blood sugar levels, blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels. So quitting smoking can reduce the risk of heart attack, brain stroke, nerve problems, kidney problems and other complications of diabetes.
Give importance to diabetes
Some say they have “mild diabetes” or have a “slightly higher sugar”. From such statements it may seem that diabetes is not a serious disease. This is not entirely correct.
Diabetes is a serious disease, but it can be controlled by following the right steps. Although difficult at first, the process usually gets easier with time. It is very important to control diabetes for a healthy life and longevity. If you want to control diabetes:
1. Healthy food list must be adhered to
2. Maintain a healthy weight
3. Increase the amount of physical exertion and
4. Even if you feel healthy, you cannot stop taking medicine without the advice of a doctor
Step 3: Learn to live a healthy life with diabetes
It may be difficult for many to cope with diabetes it may seem impossible. It is not uncommon to feel bad about this.
However, if you suffer from stress due to diabetes, it can raise your blood sugar even more. So it is important to take care of mental health.
Mental health care
If there is stress, it has to be dealt with. Ways to relieve stress include:
- Breathe deeply with concentration
- Gardening
- Walking. For example: on the roof of the house or in the park
- Meditate
- Do yoga or yoga
- Doing hobbies or listening to favorite songs
- Spending time with family or friends
If you feel down, don’t hesitate to ask for help. You can feel good about yourself by letting others know how you feel. So you can talk to family members, friends or relatives who will listen to your concerns. Consult a doctor and mental health specialist if necessary.
If you are depressed most of the day or most of the week, it can be a sign of depression. In such cases, consult a doctor without delay.
Eat healthy food
- Make a list of healthy foods with the advice of a doctor. If you go to the doctor, he can give you a diet chart or refer you to a nutritionist. Nutritionists can help create a list of healthy foods to control diabetes.
- Eat healthy home-made food. Plan at the beginning of the week what you will eat each week. Take healthy snacks or snacks with you when you go out. Such as: apples, carrots and cucumbers.
- Try to understand the nutritional value of food by looking at the label. Food wrappers usually provide information on its nutritional value. This will allow you to choose healthy foods while eating out.
Keep the body moving
- Try to exercise at least 30 minutes a day. You can start by walking 3 times a day for 10 minutes. Try to increase the amount of exercise gradually.
- Try to do muscle strength exercises or ‘Strength Training’ any two days of the week. These include weightlifting, push-ups and pull-ups. You can also do various exercises using stretch bands. Or you can do yoga or yoga.
You can easily learn such exercises by watching YouTube. You can find videos of this type of exercise using the following words:
- Push up
- Pull up
- Yoga
Adjust your daily routine
- Take medicine at a certain time every day. Even if you feel healthy, do not stop taking the medicine without the advice of a doctor. Tell your doctor if you can’t afford to buy the medicine that your doctor advised you to take or if you have any side effects.
- Take care of your feet regularly. Check every day for any problems such as cuts, sores, blisters, swelling or redness in the legs. If any such symptoms appear, go to the doctor without delay.
- Brush your teeth and gums every morning and night after meals.
- Ask your doctor how often your blood sugar should be measured every day or several times a day.
- Measure your blood sugar regularly. Keep a record of sugar in a specific book or diary.
- Measure blood pressure according to the doctor’s advice. Keep a record of your blood pressure.
- Refrain from smoking.
You can also get vaccinated against pneumonia and hepatitis B by consulting a doctor.
Step 4: Stay under regular doctor’s supervision
Patients with diabetes should see a doctor at least twice a year. This checkup is very important for controlling diabetes and reducing the risk of complications. As a result, various health problems can be identified quickly and treatment can be started early.
