My brother has been just detected having Diabetes Mellitus with blood-sugar 281 after fasting and a triglyceride level of 544.I solicit Expert recommendation regarding total recovery from this disease.What foods to be taken,what foods to be avoided,at what intervals food should be taken,what should be the way of life,why a person gets this disease,how it can be avoided altogether?Our maternal grandfather had this and our mother aged 86 years also has it.
Diabetes - 2 Answers
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1 :
Diabetes is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism caused by relative or absolute deficiency of insulin. Two ways that a person gets this disease is by getting it from family (inherited) or by some unknown mechanism (viral, autoimmune). In anycase, there is no way to avoid getting diabetes, because once you have it, you have it. There is currently no cure for this disease,and the best that medical therapy can do is to control the progression of disease. Having uncontrolled diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage, heart attacks and stroke. Your brothers doctor will probably prescribe a variety of drugs to control his high blood sugar to normal or near normal range. The main point is that he has to combine is medical regimen along with diet and exercise. I cant currently recommend what types of exercise can he do, since its all dependent on the person general state of health. Dietary modifications is a must, and avoidance of simple sugars (colas, cakes, etc), and high fat foods (there are a lot of these). Bottomline however, continuous monitoring of blood sugar with good sugar control is the best way to recover and prevent the serious complications of this disease.
2 :
First of all, that's a lot of questions to answer in the small space provided here, but I will try to give you some starting points. Talking with your doctor is your best place to begin. He / she can steer you in the right direction toward meeting your health goals. As for food.... consult with a registered dietician or nutritionist for professional advice. Some basic pointers are: -- Avoid high-sugar content foods.Trade out regular soft drinks for more healthy options such as water, tea (not sweetened with sugar), or diet soft drinks. -- Avoid high-carb foods. Carbs are often metabolized as glucose and will cause your blood sugar to rise in much the same fashion as sugary foods. Potatoes, pastas, and breads are among high-carb foods. -- Avoid high-fat foods, in order to reduce cholesterol. Plan out low-fat meals and avoid frying when possible. Cholesterol and diabetes go hand in hand, so reducing one (also reducing your triglycerides) will have a positive effect on the other. -- Avoid high-sodium foods. Try to watch your salt intake as much as possible. Sodium is a cause of high blood pressure, which is also a sister-syndrome of diabetes. -- Avoid alcoholic beverages. Limit your alcohol intake to the minimal. While most alcoholic mixed drinks are high in sugar content (in the mixers) and beers are high in carbs, alcohol can actually cause hypoglycemic reactions. When it comes to diabetic meal planning, portion control is really the main key. Limit your portion sizes and avoid over-indulging. Some sugar, carbs, fats, and salt are actually okay and are impossible to avoid, but avoid excess. There is no set time interval at which you should eat, however it is recommended that you eat small snacks (healthy, of course) throughout the day and 3 meals a day. Being on a regular meal schedule has a major effect on your blood sugar levels so try to eat around the same time everyday. ************************ Unfortunately, there is no cure for diabetes, but with proper medical control you can definitely lead a healthy and happy life. Control is the key to taming the disease. Take medication as prescribed, eat the right diet, and exercise regularly. There are great resources around in nearly every community so take advantage of those. Join a diabetic support group in your area or solicit the services of a Certified Diabetes Educator near you. Your local health department is likely a great resource as well when it comes to diabetes. Good luck and best wishes...
