Diabetic complications often lead to the hospital.
People with diabetes know what they’ll hear whenever they see their doctor. Another exhortation to eat right and exercise, because that’s how to keep blood sugar levels under control.
It’s proven advice, but not enough to prevent a long list of diabetic complications heart and kidney disease.
Check your feet daily.
“Keeping good watch over your feet is an important aspect of good diabetes care,”
A high blood sugar level can cause nerve damage in the feet, and you might not feel a cut, scrape or blister that could be the start of a deep skin infection.
Coddle teeth and gums.
Diabetes sufferers run an increased risk of tooth decay, inflamed gums and gum disease because the condition increases vulnerability to bacterial infections and hampers the ability to fight them.
Brushing after every meal, or at least twice a day, and flossing once a day is crucial.
Go easy on salt.
Sodium and high blood pressure go hand in hand, and if you have diabetes, high blood pressure multiplies your already elevated risk of cardiovascular and kidney diseases. Cutting back on salt isn’t just a matter of reaching for the shaker less often. Prepared foods tend to be salt-heavy.
One large fast-food taco or egg-and-sausage biscuit has close to the American Heart Association’s recommended daily sodium limit.
Ditch the butter – go for olive oil.
Switching can make a marked impact on cholesterol, especially for those who have trouble reducing overall fat intake, Ganda says.
The saturated fat in butter raises blood cholesterol and the risk of cardiovascular problems. Olive oil is a monounsaturated fat that can reduce bad cholesterol.
By the end, between 10 and 11 percent of those in the two Mediterranean groups had developed diabetes, compared with 18 percent in the low-fat group.
Kick the habit.
Smoking is a major factor in atherosclerosis. Which frequently puts people with diabetes in the hospital. When an artery becomes blocked and causes a heart attack, stroke or other vascular problem.
Smoking also raises blood pressure and cholesterol. Diabetes also puts smokers at greater risk of pneumonia – and of having a worse case.
Fend off depression.
“This is a chronic illness where patients are reminded daily they have diabetes,”.
Depression is dangerous for people with diabetes. Because it can make them feel as if they have no control over their illness.
That may make them feel so helpless they don’t stick to their medications or show up for doctor visits.
Most complications stemming from diabetes are preventable.
The key is to understand and manage the illness from day one to keep minor complications from becoming major. Diabetes is a time bomb, “It’s ticking, and unless you’re taking care of it … you’ll end up in the hospital.”