Category — Diabetes

You are not alone. There are many on your side that can help to lessen the load living with diabetes has placed on your life. You have the opportunity now to assemble your very own diabetes care team that will assist you with knowing what things you need to do. The following compilation of resources has principally your activity level in mind (with focus on your feet – I am a podiatrist after all) and is by no means comprehensive but will give you a start in assembling this team. The topics listed are meant to serve as step offs to a broader conversation.

1) Keep blood sugar level in target range – Your primary care physician can assist you with this, but it’s vital that you monitor your blood sugar level closely between visits. Remember, it is problems with your blood sugar level that can cause the damage to blood vessels and nerves that can be so detrimental to your overall health (and your feet in particular). Keeping that level in check can prevent a whole host of other problems.

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The more you keep your body moving, the better and longer you are likely to live. At least 150 minutes a week of moderate physical activity – an average of only about 20 minutes a day – will go a long way toward keeping you healthy and lowering your risk of heart disease, diabetes and various other life-shortening conditions.

That’s the bottom line of new guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for individuals over age 6. In addition to diabetes and heart disease, exercise also reduces the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, colon and breast cancer, and early death. Regular exercise helps prevent falls, insomnia and depression and also improves cognitive function and a sense
of well-being.

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Once you have been diagnosed with diabetes, the first thing you here from your doctor is to “get some exercise”. Pretty soon everyone is jumping on the bandwagon and pointing out to you just how important it is to “get some exercise”.

Learnt how to control the disease, and getting exercise is an important part of that control. At first you think how can you possibly exercise, it was probably this mindset, and lack of exercise, that brought on the disease. You are probably well overweight, a major contributor to the disease, and the feelings of apprehension set in, how can I possibly exercise.

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Planning ahead when you travel reduces stress. This is particularly important for a diabetic. These 5 diabetes travel tips are simple to implement and crucial to your diabetic management. They are particularly important if you are traveling abroad.

1. Have a pre-travel check-up.
   Make sure your A1C blood sugar levels; your blood pressure and your cholesterol levels are OK. Get the appropriate shots for any country you plan to visit. [Read more →]

Very! The early symptoms of untreated diabetes mellitus are related to the elevated blood glucose levels. Excess glucose in the blood ultimately results in high levels of glucose being present in the urine (glucosuria). This increases the urine output, which leads to dehydration and increased thirst. Other symptoms include extreme tiredness, weight loss, blurred vision, itchy skin and repeated minor infections such as thrush and boils.

Another form of diabetes, known as gestational diabetes, occurs in some women during pregnancy. It is a temporary condition caused by pregnancy and usually occurs in the later stages, once the baby has formed but is still growing.

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