How to Use Low-Cost Technology Tips to Manage Diabetes

From goodmenproject.com

The great news is that with proper management, diabetes doesn’t have to hamper your quality of life

Diabetes cases have been growing over the past decade in the United States. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes. Complications related to the ailment can be serious, including vision loss, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and the amputation of toes, feet, or legs due to poor circulation. The great news is that with proper management, diabetes doesn’t have to hamper your quality of life. These low-cost tips and tools will help with day-to-day management so you can get your diabetes under control. Read on for low-cost technology tips to manage diabetes.

Watch Your Weight with Supplements

Obesity increases your risk for developing type 2 diabetes and, if you’ve already been diagnosed with the illness, can make it more difficult to manage. Watch your weight by maintaining a healthy diet based primarily on whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and lean proteins. You can also use supplements to support your goals, but that said, always consult a healthcare professional before adding any medications or supplements.

Get a Fitness Tracker for Exercising

Of course, your diet isn’t the only factor influencing weight. It’s important to engage in regular exercise, as well. A fitness tracker can help hold you accountable to your fitness goals by recording your physical activity and key statistics, such as resting versus active heart rate. The Apple Watch Series 4, in addition to monitoring heart rate and generating an ECG, can even help keep you safe as it provides fall detection and an emergency SOS call function. Just be sure you have a sturdy, comfortable watch band that can survive your exercise routine. Not a fan of Apple products? Alternative brands like FitBit are another option, including key features like heart rate monitor and GPS in addition to activity tracking. These assets support both your wellbeing and your safety.

Use Telemedicine to Check in with a Doctor

One of the keys to diabetes management is keeping an eye on important statistics, like blood sugar levels, and checking in regularly with a doctor. If you find yourself unable to stick to in-person appointments, try telemedicine. These programs connect you with a certified medical practitioner, who can review your stats and symptoms and advise on your care plan. Platforms like AmWell even offer 24/7 service, so you can work around your busy schedule. All of the professionals on their platform are board-certified so you can be sure you’re getting reliable advice. You can even access AmWell through your mobile device using its app.

Download Useful Apps to Your Phone

Apps offer a cost-effective way to keep track of your diabetes without added hassle. You can keep track of what you’re eating using a tool like MyNetDiary, for instance. It features meal and exercise planning tools as well as custom trackers; upgrade to premium and you can even print out PDF reports to share with your dietitian or doctor. There are also apps available to help you track your glucose. Glucose Buddy lets you create a continual record of glucose levels, allowing you to gain insights into telling patterns over time. Your doctor can use this real-time information to adjust your treatment plan.

It’s possible to live a long, happy, and healthy life with diabetes. The key to success is day-to-day management. The above guidelines will help you keep your diabetes under control by making the process easier and more enjoyable for you. In general, it’s been shown that technology can play a major role in empowering and motivating patients to manage their diabetes, so don’t discount the tech devices mentioned above. With a small investment in these tools and tricks, you will be making a big investment in your health. Hopefully this article opened your eyes regarding low-cost tips to manage diabetes as well as the new technology.

https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/how-to-use-low-cost-technology-tips-to-manage-diabetes-kpkn/

Diabetes type 2: Four ways you can prevent the condition from developing

From express.co.uk

DIABETES is an insidious condition, slowly taking away your energy, and causing internal damage when you're completely unaware you have it. This is why it's important to recognise the symptoms early - and to know how to prevent it from occurring in the first place

Early warning signs of type 2 diabetes include increased thirst, hunger and urination. Furthermore, fatigue, blurred vision and losing weight can all be symptoms of the condition. How can you prevent it from happening? The British Heart Foundation (BHF) warned high blood sugars – i.e. diabetes – tends to develop gradually "after the age of 40". It's closely linked to being overweight, being physically inactive and having a family history of the condition, such as a father or mother having it.

How to prevent type 2 diabetes

The first thing anyone can do to reduce their likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes is to be a non-smoker.

The Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) said smokers have a 40 percent increased risk of high blood sugars.

The toxins in cigarettes cause harm to the body's cells, increase inflammation and decrease the effectiveness of insulin. Insulin is the key hormone, produced by the pancreas, that enables sugar to be converted into energy within the body.

When insulin doesn't work, the sugar remains in the blood, leading to type 2 diabetes (i.e. high blood sugar levels).

The BHF added that the second thing you can do to reduce your risk is to "manage your weight".

This is because obesity is one of the risk factors associated with developing type 2 diabetes.

Carrying too much fat around the abdomen increases insulin resistance, meaning your body is less efficient at converting sugar into energy. Too much sugar in the bloodstream can be dangerous, as it can damage the arteries and increased the chance of heart disease.

Maintaining a healthy weight – with a body mass index between 18.5 and 24.9 – can be achieved through diet and exercise.

This leads to the third and fourth lifestyle habits to help prevent type 2 diabetes.

The BHF encourages people to be "more active" in everyday life - essentially exercising daily.

The BHF is offering people the opportunity to sign up to My Step Challenge.

There you have the option of choosing your fitness goal, whether it be:

50k Step Challenge;

250k Step Challenge;

Half a Million Step Challenge;

Or creating your own challenge.

"Missing a day just means starting again tomorrow. Your health is worth the effort now and in the future," said the BHF.

As well as minimising the risk of type 2 diabetes, exercise can be seen as a miracle cure, preventing ill health.

The fourth – and final – lifestyle tip shared by the BHF to reduce the risk of diabetes is to "eat a healthy, balanced diet".

What is type 2 diabetes? (Image: Express)

There you have the option of choosing your fitness goal, whether it be:

• 50k Step Challenge;
• 250k Step Challenge;
• Half a Million Step Challenge;
• Or creating your own challenge.

"Missing a day just means starting again tomorrow. Your health is worth the effort now and in the future," said the BHF.

As well as minimising the risk of type 2 diabetes, exercise can be seen as a miracle cure, preventing ill health.

The fourth – and final – lifestyle tip shared by the BHF to reduce the risk of diabetes is to "eat a healthy, balanced diet".

Three tips for eating healthily

1. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables
2. Choose wholegrain bread, rice, pasta and potatoes
3. Opt for low-fat, low-salt, and low-sugar

Try to eat – at least – five portions of fruit and vegetables every day; one portion is equivalent to one handful. Swap saturated fats (such as butter) for unsaturated fats (such as olive spread). And also refrain from adding salt to any of your cooking, or having salt on the dinner table.

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1415848/diabetes-type-2-prevention-not-smoking-diet-exercise-healthy-weight

Fitness Facts: Diabetes

From news.gcu.edu

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Many people know someone with the diagnosis of diabetes, and most people are aware there are two major types of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes affects around 5% of people with diabetes. In this condition, the person’s pancreas no longer makes insulin, so they must take insulin daily to survive. Many times, the diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes occurs before age 20.

However, the majority of people with diabetes have Type 2, where the body’s cells becomes resistant to natural insulin. This occurs slowly over many years, and sometimes patients are told they have pre-diabetes. It is estimated through research that 1 out of 3 people have pre-diabetes but are totally unaware! Why is this occurring and can it be prevented?
The good news is, yes, Type 2 diabetes can be prevented. There are three risks that you can alter regarding pre-diabetes:

• Weight: Being overweight is a main risk factor for Type 2 diabetes.
• Fat distribution: If you store fat mainly in the abdomen, you have a greater risk of Type 2 diabetes than if you store fat elsewhere, such as in your hips and thighs. Your risk of Type 2 diabetes rises if you’re a man with a waist circumference above 40 inches or a woman with a waist that’s greater than 35 inches.
• Inactivity: The less active you are, the greater your risk of type 2 diabetes. Physical activity helps you control your weight, uses up glucose as energy and makes your cells more sensitive to insulin.

The diagnosis of diabetes is made through a fasting blood glucose test or a test called haemoglobin A1C. The A1C test tracts blood glucose values over the past 60-90 days. Higher than normal values in either of these tests warrants attention to your lifestyle.

Why should people be diagnosed? Because left untreated, Type 2 diabetes can affect many other body systems. It can lead to heart disease, kidney disease, loss of vision, foot ulcers and, in severe cases, amputation of a lower extremity.

Recently, some people are asking if Type 2 diabetes is reversible. There have been studies on morbidly obese patients, who undergo bariatric surgery and in fact, Type 2 diabetes was reversed. Some experts say, however, that the disease never goes away, but blood sugars may be controlled by eating less carbohydrates and sugar.

It is estimated that 50% of those with elevated A1C’s could lower their value by making positive lifestyle changes. These adjustments include dietary changes with more fresh fruits and vegetables plus an increase in activity.

The goal of Diabetes Awareness Month is for more people to be tested and take control of their health... Awareness is the first step in prevention!

https://news.gcu.edu/2019/11/fitness-facts-diabetes/