(Helpful Tip) Knowing your diabetes well guarantees victory in every battle!!!

One of the scariest diseases for modern people these days is diabetes.

Let's learn about diabetes and try to prevent it~~

 

My father also passed away due to diabetes complications. It was almost 25 years ago, so I still vividly remember taking care of him like a nurse—helping with hospital stays, giving insulin injections every morning—back when I was still very young.

My father passed away after struggling with diabetes, but I hope that others will prevent diabetes well and manage it properly if they do get it, so they can live healthily. Today, I would like to share some tips related to diabetes.

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

Diabetes is a type of metabolic disorder characterized by insufficient insulin secretion or impaired normal function, marked by high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia), which causes various symptoms and signs, and results in the excretion of glucose in the urine.

 

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

Causes of diabetes

Type 1 and Type 2 are distinguished, with Type 1 diabetes previously called childhood diabetes, and it is a disease caused by the complete inability to produce insulin.

In contrast, type 2 diabetes, which relatively lacks insulin, is characterized by insulin resistance (a decline in insulin function that lowers blood sugar, causing cells to be unable to effectively burn glucose).

These days, environmental factors such as high-calorie, high-fat, and high-protein diets due to Westernized eating habits, lack of exercise, and stress play a significant role. However, diabetes can also develop due to defects in specific genes, and it can occur as a result of pancreatic surgery, infections, or medications.

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

Symptoms of diabetes

Initially, symptoms may not be noticeable, but as blood sugar levels rise significantly, thirst develops, leading to increased water intake, frequent urination, and rapid weight loss. If high blood sugar levels persist for a long period, various complications can occur in the body, most notably loss of vision, kidney dysfunction, neuropathy, and a sudden increase in the risk of cardiovascular diseases. For your information, my father passed away due to liver damage caused by medication for diabetes treatment.

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

If symptoms that suggest diabetes appear, you can confirm whether you have diabetes by visiting a hospital or checking your blood sugar levels at home.

If the blood sugar level checked in the fasting state in the morning is 126 mg/dL or higher, or if the blood sugar level two hours after an oral glucose tolerance test is 200 mg/dL or higher, it can be diagnosed as diabetes mellitus.

 

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

Let's check if you have diabetes!!!

 

Suddenly, my throat became dry frequently, and I started drinking a lot of water.

Even after eating, I quickly feel hungry again, and it's become difficult to endure the hunger.

He frequently visits the bathroom.

I feel like I'm eating more than usual, but I'm losing weight.

Unbearable drowsiness occurs after meals.

I am still tired.

The skin boils, hives, and dryness have worsened.

My vision seems blurry and my eyesight has worsened.

Hands, feet, arms, and legs often feel numb.

Bruises and wounds frequently occur and heal slowly.

I often bleed from my gums.

I have severe swelling in my body.

My bad breath has worsened.

Discoloration appears on the folded areas of the body.

Headaches occur frequently.

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

The early symptoms of diabetes vary from person to person and can be subtle, making them easy to overlook. However, if several of these 15 symptoms apply to you, I recommend visiting a hospital for a blood test.

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes

 

(Individuals with the relevant risk factors should always be cautious, as they may have potential diabetes.)

Overweight/High blood pressure/Abnormal cholesterol levels

Family history of diabetes in immediate family members

History of fasting blood sugar disorder or impaired glucose tolerance

History of gestational diabetes mellitus or delivery of a macrosomic infant weighing over 4 kg

Insulin resistance

Cardiovascular diseases (stroke, coronary artery disease, etc.)

Medications (sugar corticosteroids, atypical antipsychotics, etc.)

 

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

In most cases of diabetes, when examining lifestyle habits, there are usually issues with eating habits. Therefore, in the early stages of diabetes, simply correcting eating and lifestyle habits can help overcome diabetes.

Even losing only about 5-7% of body weight through daily exercise and diet control can delay or prevent the onset of the disease, making it the most important factor in diabetes treatment.

 

Even if individuals with a family history of diabetes are currently healthy, it is advisable for them to be aware of their risk of diabetes and to always be cautious about their eating habits.

Above all, it is important to reduce carbohydrate intake even slightly and increase vegetable consumption. Due to the characteristics of Koreans, completely avoiding carbohydrates is not possible, but since carbohydrates are the main nutrients that cause blood sugar fluctuations, it is advisable to be cautious not to consume too much.

It is important to avoid meals consisting solely of carbohydrates such as noodles, rice cakes, bread, and snacks, and to refrain from snacks, sweetened beverages, and alcohol.

It is not considered a very good method to eat a lot of brown rice for dieting or blood sugar control, so instead of white rice or brown rice, it is recommended to make multigrain rice by adding barley, beans, red beans, etc.

When diabetes develops, it is also important to watch out for high blood pressure, so it is advisable to be cautious with foods that are excessively high in calories or salt.

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

Foods that help alleviate diabetes

Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, anthocyanin components in blueberries, magnesium found in almonds, monounsaturated fatty acids like olive oil, and foods like oats, bitter melon, and sweet potato are known to be beneficial for diabetes.

Additionally, fish is more helpful than meat in managing diabetes, especially blue fish, which has a high omega-3 fatty acid content and can help prevent complications such as arteriosclerosis and stroke.

Increasing vitamin B intake through milk and legumes is also effective in preventing diabetic neuropathy symptoms such as numbness, tingling, muscle pain, and weakness.

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

Foods that are bad for diabetes

Sugar, salt, saturated fat, flour, foods with high GI index, alcohol consumption and smoking, late-night eating, overeating, binge eating

For prevention and management, it is advisable to limit the intake of chocolate, carbonated drinks, beverages containing fructose, fried foods, fast foods, as well as salted foods (such as salted fish), ice cream, fresh cream, and fatty meats. Additionally, it is recommended to avoid irregular eating patterns, alcohol consumption, and smoking.

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

Eating habits for diabetes

What you eat is important, but how you eat is also very important.

The always-heard "regular and balanced diet" is also important for diabetes.

It is recommended to have balanced meals containing carbohydrates, proteins, and fiber at each meal, and to avoid overeating by eating small portions at scheduled meal times. Additionally, it is beneficial to eat fresh vegetables before meals to help keep blood sugar levels rise slowly.

Since eating speed also has a significant impact on blood sugar levels, it is helpful for diabetes to develop the habit of eating slowly while considering the rate at which food is absorbed into the body.

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

Exercise habits for diabetes

It is good to exercise at least three times a week, aiming to sweat for more than 30 minutes each session.

The type of exercise doesn't matter. Consistency is key, so try to stick with any kind of exercise that suits you.

[if !supportEmptyParas] [endif]

Remember that for the prevention or treatment of diabetes, maintaining a consistent and regular diet and managing your weight through strength and aerobic exercises are the most important!

It would also be good to take omega-3 supplements for unsaturated fatty acids.