Skip to main content
  • Diabetes
    Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder in which the body has difficulty regulating its blood glucose or blood sugar level.  The burden of diabetes is increasing globally, particularly in developing countries. While the causes are complex, but the increase is in large part due to rapid increases in overweight, including obesity and physical inactivity. There is good evidence that a large proportion of cases of diabetes and its complications can be prevented by a healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco.
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 1 November 2015

You need a healthy meal plan and an exercise regimen. Being active is very important as it helps the body use insulin more efficiently to convert glucose into energy for the cells. 

Food and Nutrition 

Making the right food choices is very important in managing diabetes. We make it easy for you to eat well and healthily with simple dos and dont’s, tips for creating a healthy plate and examples of low-glycaemic index foods. 

Physical Fitness

Exercise plays a key role in managing diabetes and helps to bring down your blood sugar level. Depending on your blood sugar level, plan a sustainable exercise regimen with the help of your doctor or fitness expert. Do be aware that exercise will have an impact on your blood sugar level, lowering it for hours after you exercise. Check your blood sugar before and after you exercise, so you know how your body is reacting to the activity. If necessary have a snack before you start or after you finish to keep your blood sugar stable. Exercise has many other benefits, such as lowering cholesterol, better blood circulation, weight loss, stress relief etc.

Take charge: Your action plan

• Lose 5 to 10 per cent of your body weight if you are overweight. For eg. if you weigh 70kg, that means a weight loss of 3.5 to 7kg

• Eat healthily (See our healthy meal plans and delicious recipes)

• Exercise for about 30 minutes a day

• Check your blood pressure. Aim for a maintaining a blood pressure of <130/80mmHg

• Check your cholesterol level regularly. Aim for: Triglycerides <150mg/dl. High density lipoprotein >=40mg/dl

• If you smoke, stop

• Self-monitor your blood glucose level with a home blood glucose meter. Aim for: Fasting blood glucose <100mg/dl, two-hour post meal BG <140mg/dl, HbA1c within normal range

Consult your diabetologist or endocrinologist once every six months. An endocrinologist specialises in the study of glands and hormones while a diabetologist specialises in diabetes, which is an illness of the pancreas gland. 

Know your support team: Who can help you stay healthy?

Diabetes is a complicated disease and you may need more than your diabetologist or endocrinologist to manage it and stay healthy. Because diabetes can affect different parts of the body, you may also need an:

• Ophthalmologist (eye doctor)

• Heart specialist

• Foot doctor 

• Diabetes nurse educator (he/she teaches patients how to self-monitor their diabetes, help in emergencies and also advise on doctors to consult to manage complications) who can advise on doctors to consult and the nurse educator directs the people 

• Dietitian

• Fitness professional

• Psychologist or other mental health professional 

 

Community
Condition
Changed
Wed, 07/26/2017 - 19:34

Stories

  • A graphic of a man in despair against a rollercoaster in the background, diabetes ribbon and patientsengage logo and text overlay of Diabetes: Emotional Rollercoaster
    Overcoming The Emotional Rollercoaster Of Diabetes
    NR* an ex-athlete, 60+ year old ex-consultant was diagnosed with diabetes 23 years ago. While his diabetes is under control with oral medication, his journey has been replete with ups and downs. In this article, he shares the highlights of his journey, his current state and set of actions, with special focus on his challenges with his emotions and how they impacted his ability to act constructively​.   Trigger Warning: Some parts of the narrative may be triggering for some persons…
  • A profile picture of Aubrey Millet in a blue shirt framed in blue with a blue diabetes ribbon and patientsengage logo and the text I controlled my diabetes
    My Taste Buds Have Got Used To No Sugars
    Aubrey Millet, 75, achieved remission from type 2 diabetes over two years ago. Here we catch up with him again to find out how he continues to maintain a strict control on his diet and abstains from all forms of sweets.     You have been able to successfully maintain normal blood sugar levels without medication for over two years now. You must be feeling gratified and thankful? It has been two-and-a-half years since I have successfully reversed my diabetes. I am extremely…
  • Diabetes and Vision Loss: How to Prevent and Manage - Webinar Video
    November is World Diabetes Awareness Month. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults. Find out how people with diabetes can protect their vision and prevent blindness.   The theme for 2021-2023 has been on Access to Diabetes with the subtheme this year being Education to protect tomorrow. PatientsEngage and IHOPE came together at how people with diabetes can protect their vision and prevent blindness. It is not common knowledge that people…
  • Best Exercises for Diabetes Management
    Consulting Physiotherapist Nikita Morwal Kataria at Chellaram Hospital Diabetes Care and Multispeciality, Pune highlights the benefits of exercise for diabetes and helps you identify exercises good for diabetes management. In today’s chaotic world, it has been seen that increased sedentary behaviour greatly affects the health outcomes such as risk of obesity rates rising, lowered cardiorespiratory fitness and lowered insulin sensitivity in young people especially aged between 11-18 years old.…
  • Diabetes Terms Explained
    As you learn to navigate and manage diabetes, you will come across new terms. PatientsEngage has compiled an easy reckoner in alphabetical order to help you understand the terms associated with diabetes.  If you don't find the term you are looking for, please you leave a comment below or send us a note through contact us and we will update this content.       Beta cells Beta cells are found in the pancreas, as part of clusters called islets. They are…
  • Stay Positive, Supportive And Calm When Parenting Child With Diabetes
    Anjana Tripathi was shocked to find her daughter diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at an early age of 14. Their world underwent a sea change trying to adjust to the needs of the condition. She shares here all the challenges that they as a family navigated. Anjana has even encapsulated her experiences in a rather well researched book. Please tell us about your daughter’s condition. When was she diagnosed? How old was she? My daughter deals on a daily basis with the chronic autoimmune disorder…
  • Eating Plan- Powerful Tool for Managing Diabetes
    Rima Rao, Registered Dietitian explains the basic tenets of a wholesome diet to manage diabetes, using the Diabetes Plate Method. She also addresses the topic of when and how much fruit a person with diabetes can consume.  "What should I eat?" is a typical question that people with diabetes ask. There is, however, no such thing as a “Diabetes Diet.” Some things that you can do include changing how you cook, how much you eat, when you eat it and what you cook with. When it comes to…
  • Stock image that shows dumbbells, a head set and phone, and running shoes on a pink mat with text overlay Diabetes and Exercise and PatientsEngage logo
    Best Exercise Options For Persons With Diabetes
    Exercise is an integral component of diabetes management. Exercise can be varied and fun. Understand the various types of exercise available and how to make the best choice for you. Exercise is an essential part of daily life for persons (Individuals) with Diabetes. It has many benefits such as lowering blood sugar levels, keeps cholesterol and blood pressure values under control, keeping the heart healthy, improves blood flow, provide strength to muscles and bones, elevates mood and improves…
  • Travel Tips for Persons with Diabetes
    People with diabetes can travel safely and comfortably. They just need to follow a few travel guidelines. These tips have been curated based on inputs from experiences of frequent travelers with diabetes and vetted by Dr. Shital Patel. To begin with, it is important to note that diabetes related supplies are allowed on the plane.  Carry medications in hand luggage and in original packaging.  Insulin & insulin pens, alcohol swabs and unlimited numbers of unused syringes  …
  • An image with a hand crushing cigarette butts on the left and hands holding a heart to indicate how quitting tobacco saves the heart
    How Quitting Tobacco Improves Heart Health
    Tobacco increases risk of multiple heart diseases. But people who quit tobacco reduce their risk of dying from a heart disease significantly. Read more to understand the consequences of tobacco consumption and the benefits of quitting tobacco. Tobacco can affect the heart and the entire cardiovascular system including the blood vessels. According to the WHO and World Heart Federation, 1.9 million people die from tobacco-related heart diseases every year. Even occasional intake of tobacco and…