Ways To Avoid Diabetes Complications

Diabetes is a serious disease and treatment is a lifelong responsibility.

Adhering to the recommended diabetes treatment plan takes a lot of effort. But your efforts are worth it. Monitoring your diabetes closely can reduce the risk of serious (even life-threatening) complications.

Here are 10 ways to help you proactively manage your diabetes and enjoy a healthier future.

1. Commit to controlling diabetes.

Your endocrinologist can help you understand the basics of diabetes management and support you along the way. But it's up to you how you manage your condition.

 

Learn everything you need to know about diabetes. Make healthy eating and physical activity part of your daily routine. Maintain optimal weight.

Monitor your blood sugar and follow your endocrinologist's instructions to control it. Take your medications as directed by your doctor. Seek help from an endocrinologist when needed.

2. Don't smoke

Avoid smoking or quit smoking if you do. Smoking increases your risk of type 2 diabetes and various complications of diabetes, including:

 - Impaired blood flow to the lower extremities, which can lead to infection, ulcers that are difficult to heal, and possibly even amputation.

Difficulty controlling blood sugar levels

Cardiovascular diseases

Stroke

Eye diseases that can cause blindness

nerve damage

renal dysfunction

die young

Talk to your doctor about ways to help you quit smoking.

3. Control blood pressure and cholesterol levels

Eating a healthy diet low in fat and salt, avoiding excess alcohol, and exercising regularly can go a long way in controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Your endocrinologist may also recommend medication if needed.

4. Arrange regular physical examinations and fundus examinations.

In addition to routine annual fundus examinations, diabetes screenings are scheduled two to four times per year.

During the physical exam, your doctor will ask about your diet and activity levels look for any complications related to diabetes, including signs of kidney damage, nerve damage, and heart disease, and check for other medical problems, all while ensuring you have access to diabetic care products online in india. It is also important to check your feet for any problems that may require treatment.

Your eye doctor will check for signs of retinal damage, cataracts, and glaucoma.

5. Keep your vaccines up to date

Diabetes increases the risk of certain diseases. Routine vaccines can help prevent them. Ask your healthcare provider:

Flu vaccine. Getting an annual flu shot can help you stay healthy during flu season and prevent serious complications from the flu.

Pneumonia vaccine. Sometimes the pneumonia vaccine only requires one dose. You may need a booster shot if you have complications from diabetes or are over 65 years old.

Hepatitis B vaccine: Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for adults with diabetes who are younger than 60 years of age and have not previously been vaccinated. If you are 60 or older and have never had the hepatitis B vaccine, ask your doctor if the vaccine is right for you. suits you.

Other vaccines. Keep your tetanus shots up to date (usually every 10 years). Your doctor may recommend other vaccines.

6. You may need to take antiplatelet medications

If you have diabetes and other risk factors for heart disease, such as smoking or high blood pressure, your doctor may recommend taking a small daily dose of an antiplatelet drug to lower your risk of heart attack and stroke. Unless you have other cardiovascular risk factors, the bleeding risks of using antiplatelet drugs may outweigh any benefits. Ask your doctor if daily antiplatelet therapy is right for you.

7. If you drink alcohol, drink responsibly.

Alcohol can cause high or low blood sugar, depending on how much you drink and how much food you eat. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation, which means no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men.

To reduce the risk of complications, it's best to drink alcohol with a meal or snack and remember to include the calories in any alcohol you drink into your daily calorie count. Also, keep in mind that alcohol may cause hypoglycemia, especially in people who take insulin.