Each diabetic complication can be avoided. It does, however, take a great commitment to your health and many changes in lifestyle. By keeping a healthy diet and exercising regularly most, if not all, diabetic complications can be prevented.
Diabetic neuropathy is a major diabetic complication that often leads to further damage of the body. This diabetic nerve damage most often affects the feet, causing loss of feeling in the feet. No longer being able to feel, diabetics are at a higher risk of cuts, scrapes, and burn that may go unnoticed. These wounds, being left untreated, often become infected. Nerve damage also may lead to changes in foot or toe shape overtime. If this occurs, special therapeutic shoes will be needed.
High blood pressure is another condition that is common in diabetes. Having diabetes and high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, eye disorders, and kidney disease. Blood pressure should be checked at every doctor’s appointment and several times a year. Exercising is very important in preventing and treating blood pressure, but be sure and ask your doctor what types of exercise are best for you.
Lifestyle Changes
To prevent a diabetic complication from occurring, several lifestyle changes need to take place. Exercising, eating healthily, quitting smoking, and no longer drinking alcohol are all tactics in keeping your body healthy. Careful blood sugar monitoring is also very important.
Making wise food choices is the first step in living a healthy lifestyle. Each meal should include a serving of fruit and one serving of vegetables at lunch or dinner. Whole-grain breads and cereals should be eaten daily, and nuts or peanut butter should be eaten as snacks. When choosing meats, make sure they are lean such as chicken without the skin or boiled ham. Finally, switch to low-fat or fat-free dairy products and cut out as many sugars as possible.
Keeping as physically active as possible in your day to day life will help many conditions such as preventing weight gain. Aerobic exercising, such as taking a brisk walk or bicycling, for 30 minutes a day is highly recommended. When first starting out, begin with 5 minutes of exercise a day and gradually build up to more. Remember, to drink plenty of water when exercising as diabetics tend to dehydrate easily. Also, carry a glucose pill or a snack with you at all times, just in case your blood pressure drops while exercising.
Related articles: Diabetes Home Testing | Diabetic Foot Disease | Diabetic Chronic Kidney Disease | Diabetic Prognosis |
