Managing Diabetes:
Managing and controlling diabetes means not only adhering to the medication plan, but a complete self-care plan that is determined with the help of the primary health care team (a doctor for each family and a health coach). This plan includes the following steps:
- Controlling the ABCs of Diabetes.
- Following the healthy dietary plan recommended by the dietitian.
- Make physical activity part of your daily routine.
- Adherence to the medication plan as prescribed by the doctor.
- Regularly measure blood glucose levels.
- Working with the healthcare team.
- Dealing with diabetes in a healthy way.
Controlling Basics of Diabetes:
Controlling blood glucose levels, blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking cessation, and controlling these ABCs reduces the chances of having a heart attack, stroke, or other diabetes complications.
- Controlling of blood glucose levels: It is preferable to control by measuring the HbA1c level, which expresses the measurement of blood glucose levels during the past 3 months, where the target range for HbA1c is less than 7%.
- Control of cholesterol levels: There are two types of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol) and high-density lipoprotein (good cholesterol). Bad cholesterol causes blockage of blood vessels, which increases the likelihood of heart attack or stroke, so cholesterol should be kept in the target ranges.
- Smoking Cessation: smoking cessation is especially important for diabetics because smoking and diabetes cause narrowing of blood vessels, which affects the heart and makes it work harder. E-cigarettes are not a safe option. The smoking cessation benefits for diabetics are:
- Reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke, nerve disease, kidney disease, eye disease and amputation.
- Improving cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
- Improving the patient's blood circulation.
- Facilitating physical activity.
Therefore, you should stop smoking by booking an appointment at smoking cessation clinics in the Kingdom through Sehhaty app or by calling 937.
Following the healthy dietary plan recommended by the dietitian:
With diabetes, a dietary plan should be developed to manage diabetic meals with the help of the health care team, which helps control blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Make physical activity part of your daily routine:
Physical activity helps to improve the body's sensitivity to insulin, which leads to controlling blood glucose levels and reducing the risk of heart disease and neuropathy, by trying to target 30 minutes or more of physical activity on most days of the week. Brisk walking or swimming is a good way to increase mobility. If the patient is overweight or obese, you should talk with your health care provider to develop a weight loss plan. You should also consult your health care provider about the types and amount of appropriate physical activity.
Adhering to the medication plan as prescribed by the doctor:
The medication plan developed by the health care provider should be adhered to as prescribed even after feeling better and reaching the targets of blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol for normal ranges.
Checking blood glucose levels:
Checking your blood glucose every day is an important part of diabetes control. Especially when using insulin, blood glucose monitoring results can help you make decisions about food, physical activity, and medications.
The most common way to check your blood glucose level at home is to use a blood glucose meter and hold it until the review appointment with your PCP for discussion.
Blood Glucose Levels Examination Times:
The frequency of screening depends on diabetes type and medications type, the usual times for blood glucose examination include:
- When it's time to wake up and before eating and drinking.
- Before meals.
- 2 hours after meals.
- At bedtime.
If a patient has type 1 diabetes, has type 2 diabetes and is taking insulin or often has low blood glucose, the doctor may order frequent blood glucose level checks (such as before and after physical activity).
Target ranges for diabetic blood glucose levels:
Blood glucose goals may vary according to age, any additional health problems in the patient, and other factors.
- Before meals: 80-130 mg/ dL.
- 2 hours after meals: less than 180 mg / dL.
- A1C < 7%
Working with the healthcare team (one doctor per family):
The diabetic patient should work with the health care team so that he learns self-care for diabetes and plays an active role in its management; to maintain the best possible control of blood glucose and learn how to live life to the maximum potential and live under less pressure, as most diabetic patients get health care from primary care specialists who are family physicians along with health education from the health coach and can join the health care team through Sehhaty app to help with this (one doctor per family):
- The healthcare team should be visited at least twice a year.
- The healthcare team should be visited if the patient has trouble reaching the blood glucose, blood pressure or cholesterol level of the target range.
- At each visit be sure to have a blood pressure check, a foot check, a weight check and review the self-care plan with the team.
- Talk to your healthcare team about medications and whether they need to be adjusted.
- Routine health care helps find and treat any health problems early or may be able to help prevent them.
Dealing with diabetes in a healthy way:
- Feeling stressed, sad or angry is common when the patient tries to live with diabetes, as stress increases blood glucose levels, but ways to reduce stress can be learned such as deep breathing, walking, meditation or practicing the favorite hobby, the patient can participate in a diabetes education program or a support group that teaches him stress management techniques (Support Groups of the Ministry of Health through primary care centers).
- Depression is common among people with a chronic or long-term illness and depression can hinder a patient's efforts to manage diabetes. Diabetics should ask for help when frustrated. A mental health professional, support group, friends, or family member may provide support and help the patient feel better.
- Good sleep improves mental health and boosts energy levels, so a diabetic should get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.