After Diagnosed with Diabetes, What Should Be Done?

When someone is diagnosed with diabetes, it can often put pressure on the sufferer—not only physically but also mentally. In addition, some people may be confused about controlling this disease. Actually, what should be done when diagnosed with diabetes?
Important Things to Do When Affected by Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin. Even if it is successfully produced, the body cannot use this hormone properly.
Diabetes can be characterized by high blood sugar levels. In addition, some of the conditions that sufferers may experience include: frequent urination, frequent thirst, and others.
Until now, there is no way to cure diabetes. Treatment is limited to controlling the condition so that it doesn’t get worse.
The following are some things you can do when you have diabetes, including:
1. Educate Yourself
The first important step to take when diagnosed with diabetes is to understand more about this disease. Do not let you just surrender to accept the treatment given.
By knowing more about the disease you are suffering from, you can find out the lifestyle that should be lived and the taboos that should be avoided.
2. Limit Sweet Consumption
The most important thing to do when you have diabetes is to limit your sweet intake, be it from food or drink. The reason is, sweet consumption will only cause a spike in blood sugar.
Choose a good alternative if you want sweet consumption, for example fruits that contain natural sugar.
Also Read: Corn Rice for Diabetics, Is it Safe?
3. Routine Sport
Increase physical activity can helps maintain blood sugar levels and increase insulin sensitivity. This habit can also help you maintain an ideal body weight.
Meanwhile, not moving enough can increase the risk of weight gain. Ultimately, this condition can lead to obesity. Please note, obesity is a risk factor for diabetes.
4. Using drugs according to doctor’s recommendations
When you have diabetes, your doctor will give you medicines to take regularly or medicines to take if symptoms appear. If necessary, use an alarm to remind you when it’s time to take your medication.
In addition, after you take diabetes drugs and use insulin, blood sugar levels can become too low. To anticipate this, prepare a source of natural sugar to eat, for example oranges.
5. Check Blood Sugar Regularly
Another thing to do when you have diabetes is to check your blood sugar regularly. This action needs to be considered carefully to prevent uncontrolled blood sugar levels.
Please note, blood sugar that is not properly controlled can lead to various dangerous diabetes complications, even life threatening.
6. Limiting Carbohydrate and Saturated Fat Intake
Daily food consumption is something that must be considered when you have diabetes. Carbohydrates and fats are food sources that sufferers should limit their consumption of.
The reason is, carbohydrates that enter the body will be broken down into sugar. If the amount consumed is too much, the risk of increasing blood sugar can increase.
Meanwhile, consumption of foods high in saturated fat can have an impact on body weight. If it leads to obesity, you are more at risk of developing diabetes.
7. Paying attention to eating portions
Apart from limiting certain types of food and drink, how to deal with diabetes also includes paying attention to your portion sizes. This action can help maintain ideal body weight and keep blood sugar levels stable.
You can use smaller plates when eating. That way, your daily food intake can be controlled.
Remember, don’t skip meals. The reason is, this will make you feel very hungry and eat a lot at the next meal.
Also Read: Are Fatty Foods Dangerous for Diabetics?
8. Quit Smoking
Staying away from cigarettes is one of the things that must be done when you have diabetes. The reason is, this habit will damage blood vessels. This effect is the same as uncontrolled diabetes.
If you don’t want the diabetes condition to get worse, start avoiding this habit gradually.
9. Manage Stress Well
For some people, having diabetes is a major blow to their life. Especially if there is no good preparation.
Not infrequently, conditions such as depression or excessive stress can occur and make the body’s condition worse. This can have an impact on diabetes getting worse.
Therefore, control stress properly so that the body can calm down. You can do meditation and relaxation to make it happen. If the stress condition is very severe, immediately see a psychologist or psychiatrist for help.
Nowthose are some things to pay attention to when you have diabetes. As long as you live a healthy lifestyle and keep your blood sugar under control, you can prevent concerns about the complications of this disease.
- Anonymous. Newly Diagnosed. https://diabetes.org/diabetes/newly-diagnosed. (Accessed January 31, 2023).
- Wheeler, Regina Boyle. 2022. So You Have Type 2 Diabetes: Now What? https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/tips-newly-diagnosed-type-2-diabetes. (Accessed January 31, 2023).
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