Dr. Patil P M

Your Take-charge Tool Kit

Blood-sugar control

Complications of diabetes, such as cardiovascular problems, poor vision, kidney disease, and nerve damage, were once thought to be inevitable no matter how hard you tried to manage erratic swings in blood sugar the core problem of diabetes. But that thinking is no longer acceptable. Several major studies from around the world have shown that if you bring blood sugar into a normal range with drugs, insulin,  diet  exercise, or some combination of these ,you can cut your risk of complication by anywhere from one  third to three quarters. If you’re diagnosed before you develop complications’ it’s possible

To sidestep diabetes-related health problems completely sometime with lifestyle changes alone. Meanwhile, technoleogy for monitoring your own blood sugar continues to improve and  is now remarkably convenient and relatively pain-free.

Lifestyle

Diet and exercise are powerful tools for lowering blood sugar so powerful, in fact, insulin. And using these “power” tools is easier than ever before. Recent research into how foods affect blood sugar has shown that your diet need not be as restrictive as experts once believed. It can include virtually any food you like, as long as you watch your calorie intake. On the exercise side, it turns out that your workouts don’t have to be as vigorous as once thought. Even short health.

Drugs

Earlier generations of diabetes medications have been bolstered by a growing roster of newer drugs that tackle the disease in a variety of ways. In many cases, you can combine these drugs to take advantage of their different modes of operation. The fact that there are also several varieties of insulin (which regulates the body’s use of blood sugar) gives you more flexibility in finding a regimen that matches your lifestyle.

Do you Have Diabetes?

Its human nature not to look for problems if they haven’t already found you which explains why between one third and one half of people with diabetes don’t know they have it.

According to the American College of Endocrinology, half of all people who finally go to their doctor to be tested have already developed some degree of complications. How can you recognize when diabetes is at your door? There are three fundamental ways.

Figure your risk factors.

The first thing to look at is whether any element of your background makes you more likely than the general population to develop diabetes.  Among the most important factors to evaluate are:

Family history

If anyone in your immediate family a parent, sibling, or grandparent has had diabetes, you have a higher chance of developing the disease yourself. The extent of the risk depends on the type of diabetes and how closely related you are to the person who has it (the risk is highest among identical twins).

Ethnic group

The most common type of diabetes (called type 2) is most prevalent in African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native  Americans, and Asian Americans. The other major form is most prevalent in Caucasians, especially those with backgrounds in northern European regions, such as Scandinavia.

Weight

Being overweight significantly raises your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. That makes it one of the most important risk factors because it’s one you can control.

Age

Type 1 usually occurs in children or teens (it’s rarely diagnosed after age 30). Type 2 generally develops after age 40, although it’s becoming more common in younger people.

Keep a sharp eye for symptoms

While the signs of diabetes can be subtle at first, they’re not impossible to pick up on. The longer diabetes progressed, the more likely symptoms are to become obvious and troublesome. The hallmarks of diabetes are:

• Excessive thirst

• Increased appetite

• Frequent urination

• Fatigue

• Blurred vision

• Frequent infections

• Tingling in your hands and feet

• Sexual dysfunction

Get tested

Tests for diabetes are easy they involve nothing more painful than a finger prick to draw a drop of your blood (although some tests require that you prepare by fasting ahead of time). It’s best to see a doctor for a full evaluation if your want to nail down your diagnosis: blood screenings at health fairs or malls provide less accurate results than those your doctor can give you. If your results fall short of a diagnosis but your background suggest you’re at risk, schedule a return visit at least every year to make sure nothing’ changed.

What you can expect

When you’re diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor will need to cover a lot ground in a short time. In fact. In fact, he’ll want to know virtually everything about you: eating patterns, weight history, blood pressure, medications you’re taking, whether you smoke or drink, how satisfying you find sex, how many kids you’ve had, any family history of heart disease, and any treatment you’ve received for other problems, including endocrine and eating disorders. If you’re a woman, you’ll woman, you’ll even be asked about your children’s development. Your doctor isn’t prying. All of this information has a bearing on your condition and the management program you’ll eventually follow.

Your doctor will also want to do a thorough physical exam, including a cardiac workup that may involve an electrocardiogram (which records the heart’s electrical activity) and a careful look at your mouth, feet, eye, abdomen, skin, and thyroid gland. You’ll have a battery of tests, including a blood-lipid test for cholesterol (among other things) and at least two different blood-sugar tests one that shows what your blood sugar is right now and the other, what it has averaged for the past two to three month.

Where Do you Stand?

Your doctor looks at a lot of variables when deciding how to treat your diabetes, but he’ll  pay special attention to one in particular: your blood-sugar readings. If your blood sugar is sky-high in your initial assessment, you may go straight to drug and insulin therapy until your numbers are brought down. If you have type 2 diabetes, once your blood sugar has stabilized and you begin making lifestyle changes, you may be able to go off insulin and other medications.

One of the numbers your doctor will zero in on is your fasting blood-glucose level, a key test of blood sugar. While other tests also need to be considered and each case must be managed individually, you can roughly anticipate your options depending on what your fasting blood-glucose levels are (numbers are expressed as milligrams per deciliter). As a general guideline:

• If fasting blood glucose is between 110 mg/dl and 125 mg/dl, you have prediabetes (also known as impaired glucose tolerance), a condition in which elevated blood sugar levels significantly raise the risk of developing diabetes. You’ll be advised to start eating a healthier diet and to get more exercise, but you’re unlikely to get a prescription for drugs or insulin.

• If fasting blood glucose is 126 mg/dl to around 140 or 150 mg/dl. You have full-blown diabetes, but you’ll probably still be able to control your blood sugar with diet and exercise, depending on your condition and results from other tests.

• Once fasting blood glucose exceeds 150 mg/dl and ranges to 200 mg/dl, it’s likely you’ll need drugs in addition to diet and exercise. You may also need occasional doses of insulin for better control at certain times of the day (after meals, for example) when blood sugar tends to be higher.

• When fasting  blood glucose goes above 200, you may need drugs or 24-hour insulin coverage-possibly both along with lifestyle changes.

FASTING BLOOD-GLUCOSE LEVELS AND LIKELY TREATMENT

Prediabetes             -            110-125                -                      Diet Exercise

Diabetes                   -            126-140                -                      Diet Exercise

Diabetes                   -            150-200                -     Diet Exercise Drugs occasional insulin

Diabetes                   -             200+                     -    Diet Exercise Drugs or 24-hour insulin coverage

Your diet plays a major role in the health of your heart, so eating healthy should be somewhere on the top of the list for keeping your heart healthy as well. There are numerous heart disorders that occur due to unhealthy food patterns and consumption. Lifestyle factors are the major causes of heart disease, and diet occupies an almost compelling spot when lifestyle factors are taken into consideration. Here is a list of foods that keeps your heart healthy:

1. Salmon: Omega-3 fatty acids are very important for your heart to function optimally. Fishes such as salmon and sardines are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which lower the risk of heart diseases such as arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) and atherosclerosis (accumulation of plaque in the arterial walls).

2. Oats: Like oats and milk for breakfast!? Congratulations! You are in luck; oatmeal has soluble fibers which help in lowering bad cholesterol levels. Just make sure that there is no added sugar in your oatmeal, as it will defeat the entire purpose.

3. Blueberries: Blueberries are rich in antioxidants that reduce the risks of heart attack and also decrease your blood pressure. So go ahead! Toss some blueberries in your oatmeal to get your daily dose of antioxidants which are such pre-requisites for supreme health.

4. Dark Chocolate: This will probably bring a smile to your lips. Dark chocolates contain polyphenols, a type of flavonoid, which is very good for your heart. Dark chocolate is known to reduce the risks of strokes and heart attacks. Watch the portion size as no matter what its benefits are, dark chocolates are still rich in calories.

5. Citrus Fruits: Citrus fruits such as lemons and Indian gooseberry are rich in compounds that lower cholesterol levels in the body. Tip – Start your day with a lemon juice and warm water. This betters your metabolism and also keeps your heart in fine shape.

6. Soy: Lo Behold Vegetarians! (and non-vegetarians as well). Soy is a protein rich food that is so good for your heart. It also contains heart-healthy fats and fibers that help bring down and normalize cholesterol levels.

7. Tomatoes: Tomatoes are rich in an antioxidant called ‘lycopene’, which is very effective in getting rid of bad cholesterol. It thus helps in keeping your arteries healthy and reduces the risks of heart attacks.

8. Nuts: Nuts such as almonds and walnuts are rich in Vitamin E which helps in lowering bad cholesterol in the body. Avoid nuts that come with added salt. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a doctor and ask a free question.