4 simple steps to control diabetes

Living a healthy and long life with diabetes is possible with just four steps. By following these steps, you can keep diabetes under control and avoid various health complications.

First step: learn about diabetes.

It is very important to have an idea about how to stay healthy, even with diabetes. For this, you need to know some things. For example,

What lifestyle changes should individuals make?
What kind of food do you eat?
How to take diabetes medicine
How to take insulin
How to measure blood sugar at home
When to measure blood sugar
When to go to the hospital
What are the most effective ways to make these changes in the patient’s lifestyle?

A doctor can best advise you on these matters. So discuss this with him and learn more about these matters.

Step Two: Learn the ABCs of Diabetes

Ask your doctor how to master the ABCs of diabetes. The meaning of A-B-C-s is—

A: HbA1C, abbreviated A1C (A One C) test
B: Blood Pressure
Cholesterol means the amount of fat in the blood.
Smoking, i.e., the way to quit smoking

By keeping them under control, it is possible to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other complications of diabetes.

A: A one-c test

An A1C test, or HbA1C test, is a type of blood test. This test measures your average blood sugar level over the past 3 months. This test differs from the blood sugar test conducted with a regular glucometer.

The A1C target for many patients with diabetes is usually less than 6.5%. But this goal is different for each person. Consult your doctor about what the right target should be for you.

B: Blood pressure

Blood pressure is the force that blood exerts on the walls of blood vessels as it moves through them.

When the blood pressure is too high, the heart has to work extra hard to pump blood. This can lead to heart attacks, brain strokes, kidney disease, and eye damage.

Blood pressure targets should generally be below 140/90. But if your doctor prescribes a different goal, follow it.

C: Cholesterol content

There are two types of cholesterol in the blood—LDL and HDL. LDL is known as ‘bad’ cholesterol because it accumulates inside the blood vessels and obstructs the blood flow. Because it accumulates inside the blood vessels and obstructs the blood flow. HDL, on the other hand, is called ‘good’ cholesterol. Because it helps remove ‘bad’ cholesterol from the blood.

So to keep the cholesterol level under control, a blood test called the ‘Fasting Lipid Profile’ should be done regularly.

Cholesterol targets can be different for each person. Ask your doctor what the right target should be for you. If not within the target, consult a doctor for cholesterol control.

s: Smoking

Smoking increases blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol levels. So by quitting smoking, it is possible to reduce the risk of heart attacks, brain strokes, nerve problems, kidney problems, and other complications of diabetes.

Focus on Diabetes

Some say they have “mild diabetes” or that they have “slightly high sugar”. Such statements may make it appear that diabetes is not a serious disease. This is not correct at all.

Controlling diabetes involves following the right steps to manage the disease. Although it may seem difficult at first, the process usually becomes easier with time. Keeping diabetes under control is very important for a healthy life and longevity. To keep diabetes under control,

1. A healthy food list should be followed.

2. Maintain a healthy weight.

3. Increase the amount of physical activity and

4. Even if you feel healthy, you should not stop taking medicine without consulting a doctor.

Step Three: Learn to live healthily with diabetes:

Living a healthy lifestyle with diabetes can be difficult—if not impossible—for many. It’s not unusual to feel bad about it.

However, if you suffer from stress due to diabetes, it can cause your blood sugar to rise further. So taking care of mental health is important.

Mental health care

Stress must be dealt with. Ways to de-stress include:

Take deep, mindful breaths.
gardening
Walking For example, on the roof of the house or in the park
Meditation
Do yoga
Doing hobbies or listening to favorite music
Spending time with family or friends

Don’t hesitate to ask for help if you feel overwhelmed. Communicating your feelings to others can help you feel better. So talk to a family member, friend, or relative who will listen carefully to your concerns. Consult a doctor and mental health specialist if necessary.

If you are feeling down for most of the day or most days of the week, it can be a sign of depression. In such cases, consult a doctor without delay.

Eat healthy food:

Make a healthy food list with the doctor’s advice. If you go to the doctor, he can give you a diet chart or refer you to a nutritionist. A nutritionist can help create a list of healthy foods to control diabetes.
Eat healthy, home-cooked meals. Plan what you will eat each week at the beginning of the week. Carry healthy snacks while going out. For example: apple, carrot, and cucumber.
Try to understand the nutritional value of food by looking at the label. Food packaging usually contains information on its nutritional value. This allows you to choose healthy food while eating out.

Keep your body active:

Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day. Walking for 10 minutes three times a day—this is how you can start. Try to gradually increase the amount of exercise.
Try strength training two days a week. These include weightlifting, push-ups, and pull-ups. Besides, you can do various exercises using stretch bands. Or you can do yoga.

You can easily learn such exercises by watching YouTube. Such exercise videos can be found using the following keywords:

Push up
Pull up
Yoga

Set a daily routine:

Take the medicine at a specific time every day. Do not stop taking medicine without a doctor’s advice, even if you feel well. Notify your doctor if you are unable to afford the prescribed medicine or if you encounter any side effects.
Take care of your feet regularly. Check your feet daily for any cuts, sores, blisters, swelling, or redness. If any of these symptoms appear, go to the doctor without delay.
Brush every morning and night after meals to keep teeth and gums healthy.
Ask your doctor how often or how many times a day you should measure your blood sugar.
Measure your blood sugar regularly. Record the amount of sugar in a specific ledger or diary.
Measure your blood pressure as advised by your doctor. Record the blood pressure readings in a specific notebook.
Avoid smoking.

Apart from this, you can take the pneumonia and hepatitis B vaccines after consulting your doctor.

Fourth step: Stay under regular doctor’s observation:

Diabetic patients should see a doctor at least twice a year. This checkup is very important to keep diabetes under control and reduce the risk of complications. As a result, various health problems can be detected quickly, and treatment can be started earlier.