[MTC Global] Tips for diabetics

Dear friends,

Good morning.

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9 Diabetes Health Tips

• A lot of diabetes health tips must have been published on World Diabetes day that went by in November with a lot of press and fanfare. I am sure most of you caught some of the action, it was hard to miss. Yet, millions in our country go undiagnosed. So if you are undergoing diabetes treatment, you are lucky enough to have identified your condition. The next step now is to make adjustments required to manage diabetes.A condition such as diabetes definitely changes your way of life but it need not define it. Here are some useful health tips.

1. No table sugar: Since you expected this, let us get it out of the way first. We do not know the true flavor of many foods from tea to curd because all we taste every time is the same sugary sweetness. Immediately cutting out added sugar will be too hard on your taste buds. Decrease the added sugar gradually. Once you learn the true flavor of tea, you will wonder how you ever swallowed that sugary syrup before.

2. Eat regular meals: Consuming meals at the same time everyday helps keep insulin levels predictable and in check. It also allows your body to get used to your sugar intake and maximizes insulin utilization. Smaller meals more frequently rather than gorge-till-you puke lunch and dinner routines are advisable. It improves digestion-assimilation and prevents huge spikes in sugar levels.

3. Daily Monitoring: Except in cases of very low sugar, changes in blood sugar levels are not noticeable. It is therefore very important to keep a tab on your sugar levels with the help of a diabetes monitoring device. Over time, you will learn how your body reacts to different foods and throughout the day. This knowledge will give you the flexibility to choose.

4. Clean hands before testing: Now that you are on-board for monitoring, the next step is doing it correctly. Ask your doctor to guide you for the first time. It is preferable for at least one family member to know how to do the test. Do clean your hands before testing but not with alcohol. This is because with daily usage, alcohol can dry the skin to the point of breaking.

5. Exercise: Heavy physical exercise is not advised for diabetics. Exercise is very important though to mitigate cardiovascular risk that diabetes increases. Consult your doctor before starting or altering any exercise routine for cardiovascular strength and circulation.

6. Inspect feet regularly: Diabetics have decreased sensation and circulation in their feet making them prone to foot infections/wounds. Wounds leading to infections can go unnoticed. In many cases, the infection is so serious by the time it is noticed that amputation is required. All this can be avoided simply by regular visual inspection of feet.

7. Gum disease: If ever you needed one more reason to pay more attention to oral hygiene, this is it. Brushing twice a day ought to be enough. Be sure to activate the gums while brushing, i.e. each stroke should start from the gums going on to the teeth. Be alert about changes in the appearance of gums. A dull pink color with puffy consistency is considered healthy. If gums turn bright red or pink and glossy, it is indicative of inflammation. Such cases should be reported to a dentist. A diet rich in fruits or a vitamin C supplement helps keep gums healthy.

8. Visit to the Ophthalmologist: After 10 years, more than 50% of diabetics develop some level of retinopathy (damage to the retina). This is manifested in the form of spots or haziness in your field of vision. From this stage to complete blindness can take years. It is best to visit an ophthalmologist at least once a year for an eye exam. Diabetic retinopathy can be corrected and controlled.

9. Pregnancy: Women with diabetes can have normal pregnancy if they keep their blood sugar in check and follow a strict sugar control regimen. Many women develop transitional diabetes during pregnancy. This too can be managed if caution is tendered.

You have probably come across a lot of tips and 'dos and donts'. What we aimed to bring to you in this feature on diabetes health tips is compact pointers that are immediate in implementation and assured in results.

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With regards,

 

Dr. K. Sampath Kumar,  B.A. (Economics), BGL, M.Com., M.Phil., Cert. A.I.I.B.,
                                        MBA (Finance), MBA (HR & Marketing),  ACS, FCMA, Ph. D.,
Professor, SSN School of Management
C/o. SSN College of Engineering
Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR)
KALAVAKKAM - 603110
Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu, India
Landline :  044-24860668
Mobile    :  9094405733
 
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