10 Diabetes Tips for People Who Have Just Been Diagnosed
The dreaded doctor’s appointment has concluded, and the results have been received. You’ve just received the news you didn’t want to hear: “You’ve been diagnosed with diabetes.”
Tips for Diabetics Who Have Just Been Diagnosed
Take a deep breath and try not to be alarmed. This isn’t a death sentence or a terrible disease that will take your life. If you approach diabetes full on and work at it, you can and will live and even thrive. Yes, it will necessitate some lifestyle modifications, but it is possible. Many diabetics lead full and active lives. The previous worry of losing limbs has mostly faded away. Let the games begin!
STOP SMOKING IMMEDIATELY if you do! This is unquestionably true. Diabetes can damage blood arteries, resulting in decreased circulation to the extremities, particularly the feet. Smoking also decreases blood flow and circulation throughout the body, particularly in the legs and feet. When you combine the two, you have a powerfully devastating attack on the essential blood supply to the limbs. The danger of infection and ulcers (open wounds) increases considerably when blood flow diminishes. This can lead to amputation, which is a dangerous path to take.
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TEAM!! Diabetes management is a collaborative effort. You will be appreciative for any assistance that is offered to you. You are the center of attention. Consider your teammates to be the supporting cast.
Your medical team should comprise your primary care physician, an endocrinologist (diabetes specialty doctor), a diabetic nurse, a dietitian or nutritionist, a podiatrist (foot doctor), an ophthalmologist/optometrist (eye doctor), and other medical specialists as needed. If you have a spouse or significant other, they can play an important role on your team as well.
Ascertain that you are at ease with each member of your team. Although you will connect with some team members more frequently than others, your comfort and ease in talking and working with each teammate is critical.
Medicine has its own language, which is nearly strange to most people. Many new terms and words will be thrown at you that you may not comprehend. It’s crucial for you to be able to follow up on your team’s conversations and recommendations. So, don’t be scared to question or even disagree with something you don’t understand. Simply listening without really hearing or understanding is harmful and can result in poor diabetes control. Communication is essential in medicine, just as it is in marriage. Listen to your team and make them listen to you.
Make a candid assessment of yourself. Are there any circumstances that may have contributed to your diabetes or that you can modify to help manage it? Are you severely overweight or on the verge of becoming so? Extra body fat can contribute to blood sugar elevation. Is your blood pressure normal or under control if you’re being treated by a doctor? Diabetes puts a strain on the heart and blood arteries (cardio-vascular system), and high blood pressure can exacerbate the problem by increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
How’s your diet going? Do you frequently dine out, where many takeout or restaurant items are heavy in fat, salt, and calories? Do you consume a lot of ready-to-eat items at home? Again, these are generally heavy in fat, sodium (salt), and calories. Your diet has a significant impact on blood sugar levels. Many persons newly diagnosed with diabetes work with a dietician or nutritionist to modify their diet, which aids in the fight against diabetes.
Do you go for a run? Even a short stroll several times a week will help to reduce your blood sugar levels. When you exercise, your muscles burn sugar, which aids in weight loss. Exercise will also help you enhance your overall health and lower your risk of heart attack and stroke. You should seek medical advice before beginning an exercise program.
It’s all about the numbers in this case. Numbers are king when it comes to diabetes. There are a few key figures to keep track of and comprehend.
The A1c is the most commonly used and monitored (glycated hemoglobin). Simply said, this is an AVERAGE of your glycemic or glucose control over the last three months. It is often correlated with blood glucose levels, with the greater the blood glucose over the course of three months, the higher the A1c. Your doctor will talk to you about your A1c level, which is determined by a blood test, and recommend a target number that is right for you. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for everyone. The smaller the number, in general, the better. The idea is to keep an eye on it for several months and look for changes.
Nearly the course of ten years, a research in the United Kingdom of over 5000 type 2 diabetic patients found that lowering the A1c from 7.9 to 7.0 lowered the rate of microvascular (small blood vessel) problems, which affect the eyes, kidneys, and nerves, by 25%. Each one-point reduction in A1c results with a 25% reduction in diabetes-related mortality.
Your blood pressure and renal function are two more key metrics that you and your clinician will keep track of. Diabetes has an effect on the kidneys, causing nephropathy, kidney disease, and possibly renal failure. Your kidney health will be monitored by blood and urine tests. The blood creatinine level is a crucial indicator of renal function. In general, the lower the better. Furthermore, a urine test will search for any protein in the urine since damaged kidneys leak protein into the urine. Long-term diabetes management and regular monitoring are essential. “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,” as the old saying goes. Diabetes is a long-term effort to keep your health in check.
All of the above figures and tests are typically completed by your provider; your responsibility is to stay on top of your provider to ensure that these tests are completed on a regular basis. Keep in mind that you are one of thousands of patients they see. It is your responsibility to stay on top of them in order to provide the optimal diabetes treatment.
Now, the test and number that YOU are in charge of and that can really help you control your diabetes is —-
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BLOOD GLUCOSE MONITORING AT HOME A1c is a three-month average. We all recall how averages can be misleading from our school days. On an exam, you can get a 100 one day and a 60 the next, for an average of 80. Alternatively, you may have 80 for two days in a row and average 80. Although the average is the same, would you rather choose a doctor who had the first set of statistics on his or her tests or the second set, which were more consistent? What if that 60-point exam resulted from diabetic knowledge? In conclusion, A1c might be deceiving at times. We utilize it since it is simple to obtain and use.
However, you must test your glucose at home to truly understand how effectively you are managing your diabetes. The more you practice this, the better. You can correlate exercise and nutrition changes to the glucose by performing it at different times throughout the day and writing it down. The most crucial times to check are when you haven’t eaten in at least 8 hours, such as first thing in the morning. The so-called 2-hour postprandial glucose test, which occurs roughly 2 hours after eating, is another key moment. This demonstrates how your body processes meals, as well as how well your own insulin or diabetic treatments are performing. These figures should be written down and presented to your diabetes medical practitioner at each appointment, and more frequently if necessary.
Previously, home glucose testing was done with finger sticks. This, however, is fast changing. New modalities are continually being developed, such as non-invasive sensors that do not involve puncturing the skin. Insulin pumps can also monitor your glucose levels throughout the day because they are tied to you. Checking your glucose levels has never been easier or less painful thanks to new technology. These choices should be discussed with your healthcare professional.
Take your medication as directed. How simple, yet so complex. Some people are able to control their diabetes with only dietary changes, weight loss, and exercise at first. If you are fortunate enough to be able to do this and have it work, that is fantastic. Unfortunately, for many people, this does not provide adequate glucose control, and even if it does, it becomes increasingly difficult over time as diabetes progresses.
Recognize that medicine is an art rather than a science. What is effective for one patient may be fatal for another. The efficacy (or how effectively a drug works) and adverse effects of a drug differ greatly from one person to the next. Initially, your provider will put you on a regimen that is tailored to your specific needs. Be aware of the possibility of negative side effects or a lack of effect. It may take multiple trials of different drugs or combinations of medications to find the right treatment. Then both your supplier and you will need to keep an eye on things. Don’t be scared to keep in touch with your doctor about the medication’s benefits and any side effects. You are not bothering them with information, and if they make you feel bad, tell them. If they keep doing this, it’s time to choose a new service provider. As previously said, treating diabetes requires a team approach, and if a provider is a lousy teammate, FIRE them. Remember that they work for you. In the end, follow your doctor’s instructions and take your prescription as directed. Don’t forget to take your prescription and don’t run out of it. Keep an eye on the refills.
The basis is FEET. Diabetes has a profound impact on the foot in a number of ways. Poor circulation and nerve loss or lack of feeling in the feet are two of the most common elements harmed by diabetes that lead to foot pathology. Diabetics’ major blood arteries that supply blood to their feet frequently become stopped. Unless there is a sudden clot, it normally progresses slowly. Plaque lining the walls of the arteries, which causes heart attacks, forms in the leg and/or foot arteries, causing inadequate blood flow. The lifeline that keeps the body and its parts alive is blood. Damage to the skin, bones, and nerves occurs as blood flow declines, and the body’s ability to repair is substantially reduced. A tiny cut and bruise mixed with inadequate circulation can result in months of sluggish healing or, worse, no healing and limb loss.
The term “neuropathy” is familiar to most diabetics. This is essentially nerve injury that causes aberrant feelings such as pain or burning, as well as partial or complete lack of sensation. In diabetic neuropathy, the feet are frequently the first portion of the body to be affected. It normally starts at the toes and gradually works its way up the foot to the legs.
Painful neuropathy, such as diabetic foot discomfort, can be effectively managed with medicines. The more usual decline or loss of sensation, on the other hand, is significantly more difficult to manage and, in many cases, impossible to halt. The usual protecting role of the nerves in the feet is lost when feeling is lost. Because our bodies come into contact with the ground at the bottom of our feet, the nerve fibers on the bottom of our feet are generally dense. These nerve fibers transmit continual input from the foot to the brain, allowing us to walk and prevent harming ourselves as we step on items. If the brain were a computer, the nerves in the feet would serve as the keyboard or input device, providing vital information to the brain or computer. The brain is effectively cut off from the feet when there is complete loss of feeling. As a result, we are unable to protect ourselves from potentially harmful stimuli such as sharp objects. Furthermore, we misuse the bones of the toes in particular, as well as the joints of the feet, without the typical protective sense. Over time, this results in abnormalities such as hammertoes (bent toes), bone spurs, and arthritis. Because the skin is also stressed, this might result in ulcers or open wounds. These are difficult to repair because diabetics’ skin is less healthy due to damage to the collagen or cement that binds their skin together.
Reduced or absent skin perspiration is another symptom of neuropathy in the feet. Sweating is a natural way to keep the skin moist and healthy. Dry skin is less able to withstand the regular beating that the feet receive. This can result in skin disintegration or cracks, which serve as entry points for infection. Dry skin also makes calluses more likely, which is hazardous because calluses can lead to ulcers or sores.
So, how should we look after our feet?
First and foremost, keep your blood sugar under control. Neuropathy or progressive neuropathy is caused by poor glucose control. Furthermore, as blood glucose levels rise, the risk of infection from small injuries or even scrapes climbs dramatically. As blood glucose levels rise, skin heals more slowly and with a worse quality.
DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR FEET ON A DAILY BASIS. The old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” applies perfectly here. Any changes in the skin, such as new or worsening calluses, redness, cracks, swelling, and so forth, should be noted and reported to your podiatrist if they get worse (foot doctor). With an infection, even one more day can spell doom. Have a spouse, significant other, or even a friend inspect your feet if you can’t see them. Use a mirror or even a cell phone camera to photograph and observe the bottoms of your feet.
Apply a moisturizing moisturizer to your feet every day, ideally before bedtime. This maintains the skin healthy and allows it to better absorb shoe stress.
SOCKS AND SHOES There are diabetic shoes that are specifically developed for comfort and foot protection. Despite the fact that I am not diabetic, I wear the IDEASTEP diabetic shoes because of their comfort and superior biomechanics. Diabetes footwear, in general, comes in a variety of widths to prevent cramping on the sides of the feet and toes, as well as the irritation that can lead to open wounds. In addition, there is a wide spherical toe box that accommodates toes and any deformities that are frequent. To avoid skin irritation, the leather is supple. In addition, the best diabetic shoes have biomechanical insoles that are built for support and function to improve gait and prevent calluses and wounds.
Shoe fitting is also a major issue. Over time, most people’s feet become larger. The feet tend to stretch out, elongate, and expand, despite the fact that the bones aren’t getting any bigger. Many people, particularly women, gain between 1/2 to a full size in length and width. In general, diabetic shoes that are slightly too large are safer to wear than diabetic shoes that are too small. Additionally, feet swell, particularly later in the day. So, buy your diabetic shoes later in the day and keep your regular socks on. When standing, the width of your thumb should extend from the end of your longest toe to the end of the shoe. If your feet are different sizes, go with the larger one. Make sure there is no rubbing on the toes, especially the little toe, when it comes to the width. Look for any bulging on the outside (little toe) of the shoe if you can’t feel your feet. It’s too tight if the toe sticks out or protrudes. Learn more about IDEASTEP’s unique diabetic shoes by clicking here.
Cotton socks should not be worn. Cotton, contrary to popular belief, is a poor shoe fiber. Cotton absorbs moisture and keeps feet damp all day, causing skin and nail infection. Acrylic, polypropylene, and wool are all suitable choices for fibers. The specifically designed IDEASTEP diabetic socks are even better. They’re moisture-wicking, anti-bacterial, and have smooth seams. They’re also made with bamboo yarns, which makes them ultra-soft and comfortable, unlike other manufacturers. I wear them myself and have never had a pair of socks that are finer. To discover more about IDEASTEP’s innovative diabetic socks, click here.
Finally, take a big breath again. At first, all of this may appear to be overwhelming. But keep in mind that diabetes management is a marathon, not a sprint. You’re in it for the long haul, ideally for a long time. All of this has a learning curve, much like getting your first cell phone or computer. You’ll gradually improve and get more comfortable with all of the chores and modifications you’ll have to make. If you follow the advice above for newly diagnosed diabetics, you will live a long and healthy life while managing this disease. Don’t be hesitant to rely on your team, as well as friends and significant others if you’re fortunate enough to have them. There are other support groups, such as the American Diabetes Association, and your local hospital may have one. You’ve got this!!