TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021 HEALTH ISSUES

 TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021  HEALTH ISSUES

DIABETES

“Diabetes can be effectively managed when caught early. However, when left untreated, it can lead to potential complications that include heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, and nerve damage.

“Normally after you eat or drink, your body will break down sugars from your food and use them for energy in your cells. To accomplish this, your pancreas needs to produce a hormone called insulin. Insulin is what facilitates the process of pulling sugar from the blood and putting it in the cells for use, or energy.

“If you have diabetes, your pancreas either produces too little insulin or none at all. The insulin can’t be used effectively. This allows blood glucose levels to rise while the rest of your cells are deprived of much-needed energy. This can lead to a wide variety of problems affecting nearly every major body system.”

https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/effects-on-body/ 

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Diabetes can affect almost all aspects of your health.  As noted above - heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, and nerve damage.

BUT - with being smart, you can lessen the problems

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WebMD adds:

“With all the research on diabetes and advances in diabetes treatments, it's tempting to think someone has surely found a diabetes cure by now. But the reality is that there is no cure for diabetes -- neither type 1 diabetes nor type 2 diabetes. (Although lifestyle changes can achieve remission in type 2 diabetes in some cases.)

However, there are treatments, including simple things you can do daily, that make a big difference.”

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Let’s follow up on that last comment - “simple things you can do daily”:

Manage your blood sugar levels 

The good news is “Continuous Glucose Monitoring” - WITHOUT finger pricks!!!  There are several devices on the market that can measure your blood sugar without getting a drop of blood.  Some report to your smartphone and can predict upcoming highs and lows - so you can adapt your lifestyle to live better with your diabetes

“The newest type of continuous glucose monitor has an implanted sensor that can detect blood sugar levels for up to three months. A transmitter worn on the body sends blood sugar information wirelessly from the sensor to a smartphone app.

Some devices show your blood sugar reading at all times on a receiver, smartphone, or smartwatch, and an alarm goes off if your blood sugar is going up or down too quickly. Others require that you check your blood sugar by running the receiver over the sensor periodically.”

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So, you can know your blood sugar at all times, and instead of pricking your finger, this can sense your blood sugar - AND - monitor ups and downs and help you control your blood sugar

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Some ways to control your diabetes/blood sugar:

Plan your meals 

You can plan your meals to fit with your blood sugar needs

Have healthy snacks 

(https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/best-snacks-for-diabetes)

The link has a list of healthy snacks.  I’ll just highlight a few:

-. Hard-boiled eggs - have a lot of protein and can help monitor

-. Yogurt with berries - the berries bring fiber and antioxidants, and the yogurt is good for lowering blood sugar

-. Almonds - good fiber and cholesterol control

-. Peanut butter and apples- both have good fiber

-. Avocado -good fiber and monounsaturated fatty acids

Exercise regularly

Exercise helps you keep you in shape, plus it burns calories, and helps normalize your blood glucose levels.

Keep up with medical appointments

Because diabetes can affect so many bodily functions, you need to keep your appointments.

Lose weight:

““You lose 7% of your body weight, you cut your risk [of developing diabetes] by 60%. And, in fact, if you're over 65, it's over 70%." But how do you not just lose weight, but keep it off? Through a combination of exercise and watching what you eat.” (again, WebMD)

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So, while there are many illnesses - diabetes can aggravate most of these.  And, coupled with COVID the risks are even higher.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) says “Having type 2 diabetes increases your risk of severe illness from COVID-19.” 

Five years ago, a physician said I had ‘pre-diabetes’.  I lost weight - and although some has come back (ouch), I don’t have diabetes.  I try to do the things listed above - diet, exercise, and taking care of myself!!!

To my friends, it is a pretty easy slide to get overweight, to let your blood sugar get too high, and to have diabetes.  Yes, you can learn to live with it - but (in my opinion), you are better off not having diabetes!!!

See you tomorrow!!!

LOVE WINS!!!

Karen