Tubeless subcutaneous insulin injection devices are easier to use, but new data suggest they can also improve A1C outcomes
Long-term use of tubeless insulin pumps leads to improvement in haemoglobin A1C in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) who had previously used other insulin administration methods, according to new research.
The data showed patients who had previously used multiple daily injections (MDI) of insulin had the greatest improvement; those who previously used tubed continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) devices had a small, but not statistically significant improvement in A1C after the switch.
Corresponding author Sanjeev Mehta, MD, MPH, and colleagues noted that although CSII has long been linked with better outcomes than traditional injections, uptake of the devices has been slow in the United States. An estimated 20-40% of US patients have made the switch, but Mehta and colleagues said the latest evidence suggests those numbers may be increasing.
The slow adoption of the technology by patients is notable because management of patients with diabetes has been a concern in the US and elsewhere. The investigators noted that among patients participating in the T1D Exchange Clinic Registry, just 1 in 5 (21%), had A1C levels of less than the 7.0%, the target recommended by the American Diabetes Association.
Mehta and colleagues wanted to better quantify the benefits that might come from adoption of tubeless CSII. The technology comes in the form of an adhesive pod that contains an insulin pump with automated cannula insertion.
The devices are waterproof and are paired with a wireless personal diabetes monitor (PDM) to help the patient monitor and control their insulin levels. The study used the Omnipod Insulin Management System, which is manufactured by Insulet Corp, one of the study’s sponsors.
Mehta and colleagues recruited 156 adult patients with T1D who had been using either tubed CSII or multiple daily injections (MDI) for diabetes maintenance. The majority of patients (63%) had used MDI prior to the switch. Patients were given a baseline A1C test just before or after their switch, and those data were compared with A1C measures after 12 months.
Overall, the patients in the study saw an A1C reduction of -0.3% following the switch to tubeless CSII, from 8.1% to 7.8%.
Among patients switching from MDI, the drop was -0.4% (from 8.2 to 7.8). The change was most notable for patients whose baseline A1C reading was 9% or higher. Those patients had a decrease of −1.2%. Those switching from tubed CSII to the tubeless version had a change of just 0.1%, which was not considered statistically significant.
After 12 months, 24% of patients switching to tubeless CSII had achieved the target of less than 7.0% A1C, compared to just 8% at the start of the study.
The study found switching to tubeless CSII had no significant effect on the weight of patients.
Mehta and colleagues said this study affirms shorter-termed studies that found benefits of tubeless CSII in real-world settings.
The study did not assess quality-of-life factors, but the authors said many patients may prefer the tubeless system based on its ease of use and the fact that it is waterproof, among other benefits.
“Future work could investigate patient preferences regarding the decision to elect transition from tubed pump therapy to tubeless pump therapy, for example, to improve their quality of life, and whether such expectations were met after the transition,” they said.
If you have diabetes, we strongly encourage you to get the coronavirus vaccine and take whichever vaccine you're offered. This is because people with diabetes are vulnerable to developing a severe illness if they do get coronavirus, and vaccines are the most effective way to prevent that from happening.
Most people with diabetes are in priority group six. If you've got a letter inviting you to book for your vaccine, you can now book online through the NHS.
Latest news about the coronavirus vaccines
We know about five vaccines so far, with two of these being used in the UK now.
Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine
The first of these was developed by Pfizer/BioNTech. The results from their clinical trial showed the vaccine to be 95% effective at protecting people against developing Covid-19 after two doses, and suggested that in the period between doses it was 52% effective. This vaccine has now been approved to use in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The MHRA is responsible for making sure all medicines and medical devices used in the UK work and are safe, and have to approve any new vaccines before they can be given to members of the public in the UK.
Oxford/AstraZenca vaccine
The next vaccine the MHRA have approved for use in the UK is the Oxford/AstraZenca vaccine. Results show that this vaccine is 73% effective after the first dose. After two full doses it’s on average 70% effective, with the second dose being really important to give longer term protection.
The government is now prioritising vaccinating as many at risk people with the first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech or Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines as possible. People will get their second dose within three months of the first.
Moderna vaccine
The most recent vaccine to be approved for use in the UK has been produced by Moderna. The Moderna vaccine is 94% effective. The government have ordered 17 million doses, which will start being delivered to the UK from Spring.
Novavax vaccine
We’ve also heard results from a clinical trial of the Novavax vaccine showing it’s 89% effective at preventing Covid-19. The MHRA will now look at all the data and decide whether to approve it for use in the UK.
The UK government have pre-ordered 60 million doses of the Novavax vaccine and expect these to start being delivered in the second half of the year.
Janssen vaccine
Janssen have announced results from their clinical trial that looked at giving just one dose of their vaccine. They showed a single dose was 66% effective. The UK government has already ordered 30 million doses of the Janssen vaccine.
The MHRA will now look at all the data on the Novavax and Janssen vaccines and decide whether to approve them for use in the UK.
Although the progress is encouraging, we don’t know how long the protection from the different vaccines will last. We also don’t know how effective the vaccines will be in stopping the spread of the virus between people.
The government has also ordered vaccines from two other companies, who haven’t shared results from their trials yet. We will continue to update this page when we know more.
The coronavirus vaccines do not contain meat, egg or any animal products. The vaccines are halal and kosher.
There’s a very small amount of alcohol in some of the vaccines, around the same as there is in bread. We call this negligible, because it won’t have any effect on your body. The vaccines are still halal because the alcohol in them is at a concentration of much less than 1%. The alcohol is there to preserve the vaccine ingredients, to make sure it works.
The vaccines contain the blueprints for making tiny fragments of coronavirus. This triggers the immune system to react and start making antibodies that are ready to protect you if you later catch coronavirus.
Vaccines also contain other ingredients which are added to keep them stable and help them work better. Common ingredients in the coronavirus vaccines include sucrose (a type of sugar) and salt. These are added in extremely small quantities and won’t have any effect on the body.
You can find out full information on vaccine ingredients in the patient information leaflet for the vaccine when you are offered one.
Who can get the coronavirus vaccine
Everyone in the UK will be split into nine priority groups to begin with. Group one will get the vaccine first, group two will follow and so on. The government hope to be able to offer everyone in the top four priority groups their first dose by mid-February.
There may be differences in how England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland roll out the vaccine, so we will continue to update you with the latest information here. If you feel that you should be invited to get your vaccine but haven’t been yet, speak to your GP and talk it through with them.
Priority groups:
Elderly care home residents and their carers
Everyone 80 years old and above, and frontline health and social care workers
Everyone 75 years old and above
Everyone 70 years old and above, and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
Everyone 65 years old and above
People aged 16 to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious illness or death from coronavirus. This group includes people with all types of diabetes.
Everyone 60 years old and above
Everyone 55 years old and above
Everyone 50 years old and above
You can find more guidance about who should get a vaccine, and when from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisations (JCVI). JCVI estimates that the total number of people in these groups covers around 99% of those at risk of dying from coronavirus. After these nine priority groups have had the vaccine, there will be a second phase of vaccination for the rest of the population.
Children
Most children can’t have the vaccine right now. This is because coronavirus vaccines haven’t been tested in children yet and children remain at a very low risk of developing a severe illness if they catch coronavirus.
The vaccines now available may be given to children who are 16 or 17 years old if they are clinically extremely vulnerable or if they have an underlying health condition, like diabetes.
As trials with children are completed, we’ll get a better understanding of how safe and effective the different vaccines are within this age group.
If you’re pregnant
If you’re pregnant, your healthcare team should talk you through the risks and benefits of getting the vaccine. Pregnant women are not generally advised to have the vaccine, but if you have a high risk of catching coronavirus because you’re a key worker, or have an underlying condition like diabetes, the benefits may outweigh the risks.
Are the vaccines safe?
We know that some people may still be worried about how quickly the vaccines are being developed. But this has been possible because scientists, governments and industry all around the world have focused their attention on this one shared goal.
All the vaccine trials have included the usual number of participants and no stages of development and testing have been rushed or skipped. The joint worldwide effort to find a vaccine has allowed for funding and approval processes to be fast-tracked, and manufacturing to begin early. This, alongside using existing technologies in the vaccine development, is why they have been developed quicker than usual.
The MHRA will also continue to monitor the vaccines over time and make sure vaccinations follow a very high standard. And it’s also useful to know that the vaccines have been tested in men and women of different ages and ethnicities, with a range of health conditions – including diabetes.
We know from previous research that the immune response to fighting coronavirus in people with diabetes is no different to people who don’t have diabetes. So there’s no evidence to suggest that the vaccine will work less well in people with diabetes.
Not everyone taking the vaccine will have side effects. If you do have any, they are usually very mild. They normally won’t last longer than around 48 hours.
The common side effects are:
Your arm might feel sore where you had your vaccine.
Feeling tired.
Headaches.
Aches.
Feeling sick.
If you don’t feel well, it’s really important that you stick to any sick day rulesrecommended by your diabetes team.
Vaccines and blood sugar levels
Taking the vaccine may make your blood sugar levels go up.
When you get the vaccine, your body will start to produce what’s called an immune response. This is nothing to worry about. Your body is just reacting to the vaccine because the vaccine is new to you.
Your body needs energy to produce this immune response, so it may release some extra glucose (sugar). This is what leads to your blood sugar increasing.
If you’ve had an allergic reaction to vaccines
If you’ve had a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine, medicine or food before, it’s safe to have any of the coronavirus vaccines unless you’re allergic to the specific vaccine ingredients.
Your GP will talk this through with you if you have a history of allergic reactions and monitor you for about 15 minutes after the jab. Speak to your healthcare team if you’re worried about this or have more questions about your previous reactions.
If you’ve had the flu jab
We know that coronavirus vaccine trials have included people who’ve also had a flu jab. Public Health England (PHE) have also said that there aren’t any safety concerns around having both vaccines.
Experts think that it’s unlikely there would be any interaction between the two vaccines that would impact on how well they work. But PHE do recommend leaving a 7-day gap between getting a flu and a coronavirus vaccine.
This would allow for any side effects you may notice, like a headache or a sore arm, to be traced back to the right vaccine. This will be important as the MHRA will continue to track the safety of coronavirus vaccines as they are introduced.
Other strains of coronavirus
It’s normal for viruses to pick up small changes over time as they’re passed on from person to person. This has been happening with coronavirus since it started spreading across the world and it does not necessarily make a virus more dangerous. The new variant identified in the UK is being studied by scientists. Evidence shows that it transmits more easily and the possibility that it causes more severe illness if you are infected is being looked into. There’s evidence that coronavirus vaccines work well against the new UK variant, which makes up most of the UK’s cases.
Some cases of a variant first found in South Africa have been discovered in the UK, but this variant isn’t as common. From studies so far, scientists think that vaccines will still protect against serious illness from this variant, but that they might not work quite as well.
A regularly mutating virus could mean that we need annual vaccines – just like what happens with the flu jab – and scientists are already working on updating coronavirus vaccines so that they give better protection against new variants. Researchers have said a vaccine designed to tackle the South African variant could be ready by the autumn if needed.
Diabetes: Can you swap white sugar with honey, jaggery or other natural forms of sugars when suffering from diabetes? Let's find out.
Diabetics are always advised to consume a healthy diet that helps in managing healthy blood sugar levels. Uncontrolled diabetes negatively affects different organs of the body and lead to severe complications later. While choosing foods for a diabetes diet, it is important to keep in mind the effect of food consumed on your blood sugars. Consumption of sugar, desserts, candies, cookies and other sweet delicacies can lead to a blood sugar spike. There are other natural forms of sugar like honey, jaggery, maple syrup and much more. Can you replace table sugar with these natural forms of sugar? Read on to find out.
Diabetes diet: Can diabetics consume natural forms of sugar
Dr. V Mohan reveals in one of his IGTVs whether diabetics can add honey to foods and drinks or not. "It is commonly believed that people with diabetes can replace sugar with honey, jaggery or other alternate forms of sugar. But these all are finally converted into glucose after they enter the body."
Diabetics should avoid consumption of honey and jiggery
"Someone with diabetes who intakes any one of these can experience high blood sugar levels. So it is better to avoid other forms of sugar. If you want to sweeten your coffee or tea, you can use artificial sweetener in a limited amount."
How to beat sugar cravings when suffering from diabetes?
You can start by consuming a balanced meal. Adding a fruit to your meal can help combat those sugar cravings. Diabetics can eat seasonal fruits but in moderation.
Also, try to distract yourself whenever you feel like eating sugar. Sometimes you are either thirsty or hunger and it is often mistaken with sugar cravings. So, try drinking water, snacking something healthy or do activities that can distract you.
Managing stress can also help diabetics. When you are stressed, you are more likely to consume more calories or something sweet. Try practising yoga and meditation to beat stress.
(Dr. V Mohan is Chairman & Chief of Diabetology at Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre & President, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, India)
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
Your kidneys are organs that play several important roles in your health. They help filter your blood, remove waste products, produce hormones, keep your bones strong, regulate fluid balance, and regulate your blood pressure.
Unfortunately, your kidneys can get damaged and become less efficient over time. This is commonly called kidney disease, and it affects around 10% of adults globally.
Various factors and health conditions, including diabetes, can raise your risk of kidney disease.
Prolonged high blood sugar levels may damage your blood vessels, including those in your kidneys. As a result, about 1 in 3 adults with diabetes also have kidney disease.
Dietary guidelines for kidney disease and diabetes vary based on the stage of kidney disease. The goal is to prevent the build-up of various chemicals, nutrients, and waste products in the blood in order to preserve kidney function.
People with kidney disease and diabetes should monitor their intake of sugar and the minerals sodium, potassium, and phosphorus.
Generally, people with kidney disease should consume no more than 2,000 mg each of sodium and potassium per day and no more than 800–1,000 mg of phosphorus per day.
In comparison, people with healthy kidneys can have up to 4,700 mg of potassium, 2,300 mg of sodium, and 1,250 mg of phosphorus per day.
People with kidney disease should also monitor their protein intake, since the kidneys may struggle to filter waste products from protein metabolism. On the other hand, people with end stage kidney disease may need more protein.
Nutritional needs for people with kidney disease vary depending on how severe the disease is. Your healthcare provider and a registered dietitian can advise you on your individual needs for protein and other nutrients.
Here are some foods to avoid if you have kidney disease and diabetes.
Processed meats are made by drying, salting, curing, or smoking meats to enhance their flavour, texture, and shelf life. Bacon, deli meats, sausage, and jerky are some common types of processed meats.
Because processed meats are typically salted, they have a high sodium content. For example, a standard 3-ounce (85-gram) serving of bacon contains a whopping 1,430 mg of sodium, which is nearly 75% of your daily sodium allowance with kidney disease.
High sodium foods are not ideal for people with kidney disease and diabetes because excess sodium can significantly strain the kidneys. This may raise your blood pressure and cause fluid build-up in places such as your ankles and around your heart and lungs.
Instead of processed meats, choose lean, skinless cuts of meat — like chicken breast fillets — which contain less sodium. However, as with all protein-rich foods, eat them in moderation based on your stage of kidney disease.
Summary
Processed meats are high in sodium, which can significantly strain your kidneys. Instead, choose lean, skinless cuts of meat and enjoy them in moderation.
Sodas, especially dark-coloured varieties, are not ideal for people with kidney disease and diabetes.
Dark-coloured sodas contain phosphorus, which is used to prevent discoloration, prolong shelf life, and add flavour. Most dark-coloured sodas contain 90–180 mg of phosphorus per 12-ounce (355-mL) serving.
Although this may not seem like much compared with the daily upper limit, sodas contain a different type of phosphorus than is naturally found in foods. It isn’t bound to protein but instead appears in salt form, meaning it’s absorbed into your blood more easily.
Healthy kidneys can easily remove excess phosphorus from your blood, but this isn’t the case when you have kidney disease.
Having high blood phosphorus levels for an extended period can raise your heart disease risk, weaken your bones, and increase your risk of early death.
Sodas and other sugar-sweetened drinks are also high in added sugar. This isn’t ideal for people who have diabetes, since their bodies can’t regulate blood sugar levels properly.
Having high blood sugar levels over a long period can damage your nerves, further damage your kidneys, and raise your risk of heart disease.
Instead of soda, choose a beverage that’s low in sugar and phosphorus, such as water, unsweetened tea, or sparkling water infused with sliced fruits or vegetables.
Summary
Dark-coloured sodas are high in added sugar and phosphorus, which can cause health problems if you have kidney disease and diabetes.
Generally, fruits are healthy and packed with vitamins and minerals. However, people with kidney disease and diabetes may need to limit their intake of certain fruits — mainly those high in sugar and the mineral potassium.
If you have kidney disease, your body can’t remove potassium properly, which can lead to increased blood potassium levels, also known as hyperkalemia. If left untreated, this condition can cause fatigue, muscle weakness, heart problems, and even death.
Fruits high in potassium include bananas, avocados, apricots, kiwifruit, and oranges.
For example, a standard avocado (201 grams) contains 975 mg of potassium, which is more than twice the potassium content of a medium banana (118 grams) and nearly half the advised daily potassium intake for people with kidney disease.
Fortunately, there are plenty of healthy low potassium fruits you can add to your diet in moderation as long as you monitor your carb intake. Grapes, berries, pineapple, mango, and apples are a few examples.
Summary
High potassium fruits such as bananas and avocados aren’t ideal for those with kidney disease and diabetes. Instead, choose low potassium fruits such as grapes, berries, and pineapple, and eat them in moderation.
Dried fruits are made by removing water from fruit through various processes. This creates small, dense fruits rich in energy and nutrients.
Dried fruits aren’t ideal for people with kidney disease and diabetes because they’re high in sugar and minerals such as potassium.
In fact, just half a cup (65 grams) of dried apricots contains around 755 mg of potassium, which is roughly 38% of your daily potassium needs if you have kidney disease.
Also, dried fruits are high in fast-digesting sugar, which isn’t ideal if you have diabetes.
Summary
Dried fruits contain concentrated amounts of potassium and sugar, which means they aren’t ideal for people who have kidney disease and diabetes.
In most cases, beans and lentils are considered healthy and convenient.
However, for people with kidney disease and diabetes, beans and lentils — both canned and fresh — are not ideal due to their relatively high phosphorus content. Canned versions are typically also high in sodium.
For example, 1 cup (185 grams) of canned lentils contains 633 mg of potassium and 309 mg of phosphorus. This is close to one-third of the daily advised amount for each of those nutrients for people with weak kidneys.
If you enjoy beans and lentils, you can still eat them in small amounts but not as a standard carbohydrate part of your meal.
If you choose canned beans and lentils, opt for a low sodium or “no salt added” version. Also, older research suggests that draining and rinsing canned foods can reduce their sodium content by as much as 33–80%, depending on the product.
Summary
Most beans and lentils are high in phosphorus and potassium, which means they’re not ideal for people who have kidney disease and diabetes. If you choose to eat them, opt for a smaller portion and choose low sodium versions.
Packaged foods, instant meals, and fast food tend to be high in sodium, which is one reason they aren’t ideal for someone with kidney disease and diabetes.
Some examples of these foods are instant noodles, frozen pizza, frozen boxed meals, and other types of microwavable meals.
For example, just one slice (102 grams) of frozen pepperoni pizza contains 568 mg of sodium, more than one-quarter of the advised sodium intake if you have kidney disease, and doesn’t provide significant amounts of beneficial nutrients.
These foods are also heavily processed and often high in refined carbs. This isn’t ideal if you have diabetes, because refined carbs are digested quickly and tend to spike blood sugar levels.
Summary
Packaged foods, instant meals, and fast food are high in sodium and refined carbs but low in beneficial nutrients. Limit your intake of these foods if you have kidney disease and diabetes.
Avoid fruit juices and other sugar-sweetened beverages if you have kidney disease and diabetes.
These drinks tend to be high in added sugar that can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar. This is concerning because diabetes affects your body’s ability to absorb sugar properly, and prolonged high blood sugar levels can lead to various health complications.
Plus, certain fruit juices are high in minerals such as potassium. For example, a single cup (240 mL) of orange juice contains around 443 mg of potassium.
Summary
Fruit juices such as orange juice are high in potassium and added sugar, so they’re not ideal for people with kidney disease and diabetes.
Various leafy green vegetables, such as spinach, chard, and beet greens, contain high amounts of nutrients like potassium.
Just 1 cup (30–38 grams) of raw veggies contains 136–290 mg of potassium.
Keep in mind that when these leafy veggies are cooked, they shrink to a significantly smaller size but still contain the same amount of potassium.
So, if you have kidney disease, it’s better to eat them raw, as you’re likely to eat a smaller amount of them this way. That said, it’s still OK to eat them cooked, as long as you manage your portion sizes.
Spinach, beet greens, chard, and other leafy veggies are also high in oxalic acid, an organic compound that can form oxalates once bound to minerals such as calcium.
Oxalates may form kidney stones in susceptible people. Aside from being painful, kidney stones can further damage your kidneys and impair their functioning.
Summary
Various leafy green veggies, such as spinach, beet greens, and chard, are high in potassium and oxalic acid. Oxalic acid can increase your risk of developing kidney stones.
Snack foods such as chips, crackers, and pretzels are typically high in salt and refined carbs, which makes them unsuitable for those with kidney disease and diabetes.
Some snack foods, like potato chips, are also high in other minerals, such as potassium or phosphorus, either naturally or as a result of additives.
For example, one medium (57-gram) single-serving bag of potato chips contains 682 mg of potassium, 300 mg of sodium, and 87 mg of phosphorus.
Snack foods should be limited or avoided as part of any healthy diet, especially if you have health conditions such as kidney disease and diabetes. Instead, experiment with nutrient-dense diabetes-friendly snacks.
Summary
Snack foods such as chips, pretzels, and crackers are high in sodium and refined sugar and low in beneficial nutrients. Limit your intake of these foods.
When I landed in the emergency room with a blood sugar level over 600, I realized there was a huge gap in my knowledge
There are so many potential complications for diabetes ranging from blindness to limb amputation. For diabetics, it’s important to keep blood sugar levels in check to keep the complications to a minimum. Learn more about out of control diabetes signs, symptoms and management.
When I was first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I was not told to check my blood sugar regularly. I was only to manage it with diet and exercise. Looking back, it would have been hard to know what I was managing since I wasn’t given a meter, any goals for blood sugar, or told what to be on the lookout for in case things got worse. I knew what low blood sugar, or hypoglycaemia, felt like, but what if my blood sugar was too high?
When I landed in the emergency room with a blood sugar level over 600 (my meter didn’t go higher than that), I realized there was a huge gap in my knowledge. The symptoms I had been experiencing for the past three to five days were my body’s attempt to tell me something was wrong. I just needed to listen.
Here are 5 signs your diabetes may be out of control:
Blurry vision
This one took me by surprise at first. It was hard for me to see at a distance. Titles on my bookshelf that I could normally see from across the room were now too blurry to read. In addition, I had trouble reading the road signs as I was driving. I thought it was because I spent too much time looking at the computer and my phone, but it was the high blood sugar.
Frequent urination
If you are taking more trips to the restroom than usual, check your blood sugar levels. This is can also result in dehydration so check your urine colour as well. Look for any differences in your normal colour range.
Frequent thirst
If you’re urinating more frequently, it’s probably because you are thirsty more often. Although this can be caused by other conditions and medications that make your mouth dry, combined with the other symptoms, it should make you pause and see what’s going on.
Fatigue
Your body will get exhausted trying to regulate insulin levels. For you, this will show up as exhaustion and fatigue. You’ll be more tired than usual and may feel the need to sleep more. If you’ve been getting enough sleep, then look for a secondary cause for your fatigue.
Headache
There are a number of reasons why you may have a headache, but hyperglycaemia can be one of them. This symptom can be because of the dehydrated state your body is because of your frequent thirst and urination.
Taken together as a cluster of symptoms, it is easier to see that something is going on with your body and take appropriate action. Know what your numbers are supposed to be and check your numbers regularly, according to your medical team’s instructions.
Diabetes is one such growing concern among us. But, by opting for a mindful way of living, we can easily battle these pressures
With the fast-paced lifestyle, we are getting increasingly sucked into an unhealthy way of living by juggling between work stress, personal issues, pandemic, pollution, dealing with time constraints, and numerous untoward things. As a result, we often find people falling sick, and sometimes getting chronic diseases. Diabetes is one such growing concern among us. But, by opting for a mindful way of living, we can easily battle these pressures. Prioritise your health as prevention is better than cure, always. So, don’t panic, just be smart.
1. Monitor meal portions, manage weight: Don’t indulge in large meals. Eating too much at one go causes spike in insulin levels and increases blood sugar. Accumulation of excess fat, especially around abdomen, increases body’s resistance to insulin. Type 2 diabetes is generally caused due to overweight.
2. 30 minutes of regular exercise: Get active and stay away from sedentary lifestyle. Make sure you exercise regularly. Free hand exercises, swimming, dancing and yogasanas are some great ways to keep diabetes at bay and prevent weight gain. You can go for daily walks for at least 30 minutes. Try to not become obese or physically inactive by ensuring these simple lifestyle hacks.
3. Eat healthy and balanced diet: Cut down on processed, junk food and artificially sweetened drinks. These kinds of foods are high in salt and fat. Go for home-cooked meals, instead. Monitor your consumption of refined carbohydrates such as white bread and potatoes. Opt for complex carbohydrates such as oatmeal, leafy green vegetables and whole grains.
4. Quit smoking, reduce drinking: Limit alcohol intake and quit smoking. Unregulated alcohol intake leads to high blood pressure and increased triglycerides levels. Similarly, smoking leads to insulin resistance due to the presence of tobacco.
5. Stay away from fad-diets: Low-carb and the glycaemic-index diets that are being advertised all around may provide you instant results initially, but in the long run, they compromise your health by upsetting the nutrients balance in your body. Make healthier informed choices when it comes to health. Consult doctors and nutritionists whenever you require.
6. Drink water and eat fibre-rich foods: Fibre is great for gut health and managing weight. Consume plenty of fibre-rich foods and drink ample water to prevent insulin spikes.
You can get healthy and diabetes-free life by ensuring these lifestyle changes.
DIABETES type 2 can have a profound impact on one's life if high blood sugar levels are left untreated. Alternating bowel habits can signal high blood sugar is damaging the body's nerves
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition whereby the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin or the insulin it does produce is not absorbed by the cells. Insulin is a hormone that governs blood sugar - the main type of sugar found in food. High blood sugar levels can unleash a wave of destruction on the body and these destructive effects often represent the first perceptible warning signs of type 2 diabetes.
Some of the most acute symptoms of consistently high blood sugar levels stem from autonomic neuropathy.
Autonomic neuropathy is when damage occurs to the nerves which help control involuntary functions of the body, including the movements of the large intestine.
One tell-tale sign high blood sugar levels are causing autonomic neuropathy is alternating bowel habits. As Diabetes.co.uk explains, if the large intestine is affected by nerve damage, you may experience alternating periods of constipation and diarrhoea.
Type 2 diabetes: Alternating periods of constipation and diarrhoea is a sign (Image: Getty Images)
How to respond
"If you have autonomic neuropathy, it is important to keep your blood glucose levels under control as best as you can to help prevent further nerve damage," advises Diabetes.co.uk.
There are two key aspects to blood sugar control - diet and exercise.
In regards to the former, there is technically nothing you cannot eat but you have to limit your intake of certain foods. The worst offenders are carbohydrates, which are broken down into blood sugar (glucose) relatively fast and therefore have a pronounced effect on blood sugar levels.
Generally, carbs with a high glycaemic index (GI) have the greatest impact on blood sugar levels. The GI is a rating system for foods containing carbohydrates. It shows how quickly each food affects your blood sugar (glucose) level when that food is eaten on its own.
Carbohydrate foods that are broken down quickly by your body and cause a rapid increase in blood glucose have a high GI rating.
High GI foods include:
Sugar and sugary foods
Sugary soft drinks
White bread
Potatoes
White rice.
Low or medium GI foods are broken down more slowly and cause a gradual rise in blood sugar levels over time.
They include:
Some fruit and vegetables
Pulses
Wholegrain foods, such as porridge oats.
Low GI foods, which cause your blood sugar levels to rise and fall slowly, may also help you feel fuller for longer, notes the NHS. This could help control your appetite and may be useful if you're trying to lose weight, which is key to managing type 2 diabetes.
Another key tip to lose weight and stave off the risk of high blood sugar levels is to engage in regular exercise.
"Adults should do at least 150 minutes (two hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as cycling or fast walking, every week," advises the NHS.
It adds: "Physical activity can include anything from sport to walking and gardening."
