Content

• Steps
• Advice

Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the US. Statistics show that in the US, there are nearly 30 million people with diabetes and every day, they must find ways to control blood glucose or glucose levels. Whether you have diabetes or have a non-glucose related health problem, it's important to find out and manage your health. There are many, albeit difficult, ways to help you manage the disease, including using insulin therapy, changing your eating habits, exercising, or maybe a whole lifestyle change.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Controlling high blood sugar

1. 

   Check your blood sugar. This is the first step in treating diabetes and is usually done with an electric blood glucose meter. Following your doctor's instructions, you will have to stick a small lancet in your finger to draw blood several times a day. Blood will be placed on the test strip in the meter to give an accurate reading. A blood sugar level higher than 126 mg / dl before a meal or 200 mg / dl two hours after a meal is considered high blood sugar. In addition, you should also keep a regular blood glucose reading to see how blood sugar changes according to diet and exercise.
   • Some blood glucose meters have spring lancets that make measuring your reading less painful. Others can measure readings from the arm, thigh or hand.
   • Unfortunately, the urine test is not as accurate as a blood test and is also not usable.

2. 

   
   
   Insulin use. Insulin therapy is required for patients with type 1 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes sometimes need it as well. Your doctor will help you determine if you need this therapy and what preparations you need to prepare. Generally, type 1 diabetics will start off with 2 injections of insulin per day, patients with type 2 diabetes need 1 injection per day along with medications, eg oral medications. In both cases, the body becomes insulin resistant so the amount of insulin gradually increases. Insulin is also introduced into the body in many ways. The most common and simplest way is by injection. There is also a way to pump and use an insulin pen.
   • Should be injected into the same area of ​​the body (but not exactly the same site) to create uniformity.
   • Insulin is introduced into the body at the same time with meals to increase glucose processing efficiency.

3. 

   
   
   Eat a nutritious diet. Getting adequate nutrition and staying healthy are two key steps in the management of diabetes. Medical research shows that healthy diet, exercise, and weight loss can help lower glucose levels in diabetics. Ideally, you should know what you need to eat, that is, eat things that lower your blood sugar instead of raising it. With the help of a doctor or dietitian, you can plan the right meal plan.
   • Nutrition is the best way to control blood sugar because blood sugar is directly affected by what you eat and when it is consumed. A healthy diet that focuses on controlling blood sugar is essential to maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, which in turn helps prevent or control diabetes.

4. 

   
   
   Reduce your consumption of simple sugars. Simple sugars like cane sugar, honey or corn syrup found in soda and processed foods are absorbed easily into the bloodstream and raise blood sugar levels. So, be cautious when consuming simple sugars. That doesn't mean you can't eat sweets. Occasionally, you can eat a piece of cake or a cookie. However, you need to be self-controlled and don't overeat sweets.

5. 

   Add complex carbohydrates. Doctors recommend that diabetics get 60-70% of their total calories from carbohydrates and unsaturated fats, especially complex carbohydrates like whole grains, brown rice, and oats. Protein-rich diets are not recommended. Instead, choose high-fiber foods like kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, broccoli, peas, almonds, apples, and pears. Fiber helps slow carbohydrate absorption, regulate blood sugar and keep you full for longer.
   • Many people with diabetes or those forced to maintain blood sugar levels think they need to completely avoid carbohydrates. However, that is not true. Fiber-rich complex carbohydrates help to stabilize blood sugar.
   • Educate yourself about snacks and meals to eat, and schedule a reasonable time between meals for better blood sugar control.

6. 

   Pay special attention to starchy foods. You should limit the amount of carbs your body needs to process at a certain time. For example, starches should not be chewed too much as they will reduce the molecular size, increase the surface area of ​​the food and increase exposure to digestive enzymes. Try to swallow soft foods like rice or whole grain pasta. The processing also affects the rate of starch digestion and absorption. Baking, freezing and thawing, or a combination of the two, will change the starches and make them digested more slowly.

7. 

   Exercise regularly. A fundamental step in controlling diabetes and controlling high blood sugar is physical exercise. Exercise increases insulin sensitivity. Participate in fitness classes, walking, or more physical activity. It is possible to incorporate exercise into daily activities by walking instead of riding a motorbike, taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Swimming and exercise classes are also good options.Be sure to talk to your doctor before you start exercising because medications can cause your blood sugar to drop too low; Some exercise also makes diabetes worse (like diabetic eye disease).
   • Exercise can lower blood sugar levels for up to 12 hours. Therefore, you should check your blood sugar before and after exercising.
   • Consider wearing a bracelet for diabetics. Let your trainer or coach know about your condition. In addition, should bring emergency contact phone numbers when needed.
   • Be cautious if blisters or sores appear on the feet, especially in diabetic neuropathy. Small sores can become infected.
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Part 2 of 3: Controlling low blood sugar

1. 

   Eat often. People with low blood sugar should eat regularly to ensure a stable glucose source, avoid shivering, panic, confusion or fainting. However, eating too often also causes high blood sugar. Such sudden changes will create a diabetic environment in the body. Therefore, you should plan to eat every 3 hours, eating small but full enough meals. In addition, there should be a snack.
   • Should bring snacks in case of sudden hypoglycemia. For example, you can snack with nuts or convenience food.

2. 

   Avoid sweets. The best way to control low blood sugar is through the same diet as a diabetic. People with too low blood sugar will need a quick sugar intake. In that situation, you can add a moderate amount of fruit juice, candy, soda or sugar, honey to improve your symptoms. However, people with low blood sugar are best avoided eating sweets, especially on an empty stomach. Simple sugars can help raise blood sugar, but it spikes and makes blood sugar unstable. It is better to maintain a balanced, stable blood sugar.

3. 

   Add complex carbohydrates. Eat foods low in simple sugars, rich in complex carbohydrates, and rich in soluble fiber. Grains like oats, barley, brown rice, starches like whole grain pasta or baked potatoes, and beans are all good foods. Fruit is also ideal in some cases because natural sugar does not require insulin.

4. 

   Add more soluble fiber. For diabetics, dietary fiber helps slow sugar into the bloodstream and gradually no longer enters the bloodstream. Most complex carbohydrates and unprocessed grains contain fiber. The same goes for vegetables. Therefore, you should eat plenty of fiber-rich vegetables such as broccoli, green leafy vegetables, and green beans.

5. 

   Add protein but not too much. Doctors used to recommend that patients with low blood sugar should eat 4-5 high-protein meals a day to get full enough and avoid fluctuations in blood sugar. However, new research suggests that a diet too high in protein can reduce glucose tolerance, which in turn can be counterproductive. Therefore, you should consult your doctor or dietitian about the best way to supplement protein.

6. 

   Do exercise. Physical exercise is beneficial for both low blood sugar and high blood sugar patients. However, you still have to be cautious. Exercise will suppress blood sugar levels, so you'll need to have a light meal before exercising. It is possible to combine a sugar with a protein, for example a banana with peanut butter or an apple with a little cheese. If you exercise in the afternoon, try a light snack before bed to prevent the hypoglycemic reaction. advertisement

Part 3 of 3: Equip knowledge

1. 

   Talk to your doctor. When you suspect or have determined that you have a blood sugar problem, see your doctor. Your doctor will evaluate the condition more accurately, make a diagnosis and tell you what the problem is. The problem can be diabetes due to lack of insulin (type 1 diabetes) or insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes) in the body. Insulin is a hormone that helps break down glucose or sugar for energy. Lack of insulin leads to chronically high blood sugar, which over time can damage the kidneys, nerves, cardiovascular system, retina, legs and feet. Another potential problem is low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. In contrast to high blood sugar, low blood sugar can be a genetic problem or a reaction to diabetes medications.
   • Consult an experienced dietitian to help regulate blood sugar (for diabetes, prediabetes or non-diabetes). A dietitian can plan your meals to help you reach your goals in a healthy and safe way.
   • If you have diabetes, your doctor will recommend a dietary management plan and may need insulin therapy. This will be the premise to help control blood sugar levels.
   • Low blood sugar can be a serious medical condition and needs to be controlled through diet and exercise.

2. 

   Learn to recognize symptoms. Disease control is a learning process. Part of that is learning how to recognize the symptoms of low blood pressure or blood sugar. For example, watch out if you ever experience dizziness, trembling, weakness, or wanting to faint. It is a possible symptom of low blood sugar. Or do you often feel hungry or thirsty? Are you urinating often, especially at night? Does urine smell sweet? Have you lost weight? Any of these could be a sign of high blood sugar.

3. 

   Learn more about blood sugar problems. Diabetes and related problems are chronic, have no cure and can be life-threatening. Therefore, you should find out a lot of information about disease, reference menus, support group information, etc. by talking with your doctor, reading the newspaper or consulting other sources such as online information. advertisement

Advice

• See a registered dietitian if you are having problems controlling your blood sugar. An expert will help you formulate a diet to help you meet specific goals. In addition, an expert can guide you on how to read food labels and provide information to help you make better food choices.