diabetes self management
TRANSCRIPT
Diabetes Self Management
Diabetes Self Management
The secret
The secret to managing Diabetes doesn't come in a pill. In most cases, simple lifestyle changes including diet and exercise will do the trick.
Treating, or managing
Treating, or managing, diabetes is a process of finding a balance. The root causes of the disease — insulin resistance and low insulin production — are slightly different in each person. The role each plays in the development of diabetes is different for each person.
So what works to control glucose levelsSo what works to control glucose levels in one person may not work in another. For one person, managing the disease may be as simple as changing diet and becoming more physically active. Whereas, another patient may need to take medication, a combination of medications, or even insulin to control their blood glucose levels. Finding the right balance is a process.
After diagnosing diabetes
After diagnosing diabetes, a doctor will usually recommend a patient begin exercising and lose weight. These should continue for life. Metformin, an oral medication, will usually be given to the patient soon after diagnosis.
If after three months
If after three months a patient’s blood-sugar level has not stabilized, a doctor may prescribe a second or different medication.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes usually takes a long time to develop. People whose diets are dominated by heavy carbohydrate, starch and sugar consumption are, over a long period of time, at a greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
By the same token
By the same token, if a person follows a balanced diet with reasonable carb and sugar intake, but leads a sedentary lifestyle, they are also at a greater risk of developing the disease. Because most people who are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are overweight at the time of diagnosis, the disease is considered to be a “lifestyle disease.”
There are other risk factors
There are other risk factors for developing the disease, but the overwhelming majority of people who develop this disease are overweight and sedentary.
A diet heavy in foods
A diet heavy in foods that break down into glucose quickly and easily will cause glycemic spikes – rapid increase in blood glucose levels. Glycemic spikes cause jumps in insulin levels, which over time can cause a host of medical problems, including weight gain, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. All of these are considered precursors to developing Type 2 diabetes.
Both diet and physical activityBoth diet and physical activity are considered lifestyle choices. Because they are so closely linked to the development of Type 2 diabetes, doctors will generally advise lifestyle changes first, before prescribing any medication. Adhering to a balanced diet — with fewer high glycemic foods, fats and carbohydrates — reduces the amount of excess glucose in the blood, which reduces the amount of insulin needed.
Moreover, adhering to a low-fat,Moreover, adhering to a low-fat, low-carbohydrate diet reduces the number of calories, or empty calories, consumed, which leads to weight loss and lower body fat. Because fat is naturally resistant to insulin, reducing the amount of fat in the body makes the body more sensitive to insulin.
Changes in diet reduce blood glucose levelsChanges in diet reduce blood glucose levels primarily by reducing the amount of glucose added to the body. Alternatively, by increasing physical activity and adopting an exercise regimen, blood glucose levels are reduced when more glucose is absorbed from the bloodstream. During physical activity, fuel stored in muscle cells, called glycogen, is consumed. Once this stored fuel is depleted, muscle cells will absorb more glucose from the bloodstream and convert it to glycogen and either use it or store it for later use.
Increased physical activity has two added benefitsncreased physical activity has two added benefits, in addition to reducing blood glucose levels. During physical activity, muscles use a different chemical process to absorb glucose. This process does not use insulin, which means less of the hormone is needed to normalize blood glucose levels.
A second benefit of increased physical activityA second benefit of increased physical activity is that it increases insulin sensitivity. This effect lasts for about 12 to 24 hours after exercise. Physical activity is the key to managing Type 2 diabetes. It positively affects the three main issues related to the disease: it reduces blood glucose levels, reduces the amount of insulin needed and increases insulin sensitivity.
