No harm caused.
In the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, early detection of diabetes has become crucial. This metabolic disorder, a serious chronic condition, can lead to dangerous changes in the body's blood vessels and nerve damage, potentially resulting in complications such as amputations, kidney, and sexual dysfunctions.
To help reduce your personal risk of developing diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes, focus on key lifestyle changes:
- Exercise Regularly: Physical activity increases insulin sensitivity, meaning your body needs less insulin to manage blood sugar. Aim for about 150 minutes per week, incorporating aerobic exercise, strength training, HIIT, or even short brisk walks.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: Losing excess weight, even a small amount, substantially reduces diabetes risk and helps control blood sugar.
- Adopt a Balanced Diet: Emphasize whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables. Avoid sugary drinks, processed snacks, and reduce total carbohydrate intake to help regulate blood sugar and prevent spikes.
- Stay Hydrated with Water: Drinking water as your primary beverage supports blood sugar control.
- Manage Stress: Chronic stress can destabilize blood sugar. Techniques like meditation, deep breathing, and engaging in hobbies can help maintain stable glucose levels.
- Avoid Smoking: Smoking increases diabetes risk and worsens complications.
Signs that might indicate elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia) include frequent urination, increased thirst, fatigue, blurred vision, and feeling unusually hungry or weak. Some early signals can also be subtle feelings of tiredness, shakiness, or difficulty concentrating after meals or stressful situations, which may reflect fluctuating glucose levels.
It's important to note that obesity and lack of exercise significantly increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Smoking, alcohol, and certain medications also contribute to this risk. Genetic predisposition also plays a role in the development of type 2 diabetes.
Consulting a healthcare professional is the best way to find out if one might already be diabetic. Regular check-ups and blood sugar tests are important for diabetes prevention and early detection. Well-controlled diabetics without accompanying and secondary diseases do not have an increased risk of a severe COVID-19 course.
For those concerned about their diabetes risk or seeking advice, the diabetes advisors are available on Monday, October 4, from 2 to 6 pm, free of charge. The reader phone number for diabetes advisors is 0800-0004743.
References: [1] American Diabetes Association. (2021). Preventing Type 2 Diabetes. [Online] Available at: https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/prevention/preparing-for-change/
[2] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Type 2 diabetes: Prevention. [Online] Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/in-depth/prevention/art-20048389
[3] National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2021). Diabetes: What is Diabetes? [Online] Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes
[4] WebMD. (2021). Symptoms of High Blood Sugar (Hyperglycemia). [Online] Available at: https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/high-blood-sugar-hyperglycemia#1
[5] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Diabetes: Prevention. [Online] Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/index.html
- Regular exercise, as a crucial part of health and wellness, increases insulin sensitivity, potentially lowering the risk of developing type-2 diabetes and managing blood sugar levels.
- Mental health can also impact an individual's risk of type-2 diabetes, as chronic stress destabilizes blood sugar levels, which can lead to hyperglycemia and other complications.
- Balanced nutrition plays a significant role in reducing the risk of chronic diseases, such as type-2 diabetes, by focusing on whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables while avoiding sugary drinks, processed snacks, and excessive carbohydrates.
- Medical-conditions, such as obesity and smoking, significantly increase the risk of type-2 diabetes, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding smoking for better health and wellness.
