Diabetes remains the number one cause of blindness and kidney failure. But they are no longer inevitable. In fact, complications usually don’t occur until after 5 to 10 years of high blood glucose problems.
These are just a few crucial tips for reversing the damage caused by blood glucose problems.
Be conscious with your diet.
Keep in mind that you always have some form of injectable insulin traveling through your system. So you can never afford to skip a meal. Don’t forget to plan snacks, mid-morning, mid-afternoon, even before bed. Also, be mindful and careful with the alcohol you drink. There are two reasons. First, although alcohol has no nutritional value, it is high in calories. A 12-ounce can of beer, for example, has 115 kilocalories. A couple of glasses of wine a day adds 240 kilocalories. You will need to take them into account in your diet plan. Second, alcohol will make your insulin more effective and can lower your blood glucose too low and leave you hypoglycemic if you’re not on top of your snacking as we suggested above.
Be vigilant with tests.
Complications do not appear suddenly. It takes 5 to 10 years for them to develop. Adopt an annual routine for early detection. Let your birthday or anniversary be a reminder to schedule a visit with your GP and have two tests done: urine for protein and fee for loss of sensation.
For diabetes, prevented is prevented. Lifestyle changes can often reverse the damage glucose is doing to your body. If you are thirsty all the time, urinate frequently, and are losing weight, get checked right away. There are almost twelve tests you need every three years if you are 45 or older.
Get a copy of the American Diabetes Association Guidelines on Management if you don’t already have them. You will find that you are urged to check your glucose regularly and record your measurements religiously. That’s because the battle against diabetes is won or lost in the arena of lifestyle and habits. To win, you need to be able to map your glucose levels to your activity and diet.