Diabetes is a lifestyle disorder. Due to tremendous change in the leading style of life it has given rise to many health issues. To maintain good health it is very important to follow a proper diet, do regular exercises and get a regular check-up done.
More and more people are diagnosed with diabetes nowadays. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can lead to complications of diabetes like diabetic retinopathy, heart diseases and many more. Every diabetic patient has to make some lifestyle and dietary changes which can help in better management of blood sugar levels.
It is seen that after diagnosis, people follow their doctor’s advice very seriously. They start monitoring their blood sugars regularly, take medicines on time, follow a diet plan , keep themselves under strict vigilance.
But as soon as they find their blood sugars are under control, they start taking their health for granted and start overlooking it. Bringing the blood sugar within normal limits is one thing and maintaining it is a different thing altogether.
Here are some common mistakes which every diabetic must avoid to keep their blood sugar levels in check.
1. Skipping Meals –
Busy schedules, monthly targets, work pressures, meetings have become a routine part of everybody’s daily life. Due to these workloads, many of them skip their meals and this in turn affects their blood sugar levels. Skipping any of the meals in a day can lead to deranged blood sugar levels. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, skipping the first meal of the day leads to disturbed blood sugar level and upset the mood of the day. Instead of eating one or two big meals, have frequent small meals during the day. Daily diet should include lots of fruits and vegetables, beans, whole grains, fish, and lean meats and poultry
So it’s very important not to skip any of the meals as it is one of the important factors in controlling sugars.
2. Not taking medicines on time –
The biggest mistake people generally make is skipping medicines. Either they tend to forget or they are overconfident that if the blood sugars are in control, skipping the doses won’t harm. But they are wrong in their interpretations.
Patients even fear of having too many medicines or having them for a long period of time, they start ignoring the prescribed medicines. They try to resolve it / try to manage their diabetes through diet change and exercise. This can lead to spikes in blood glucose levels which can further worsen their health.
All prescribed medicines should be taken by the patient on time as advised by the doctor.
Timing makes a big difference in the effectiveness and safety of the diabetes management plan. If the meals are taken on time followed by medicines, the benefits are visible. If you find that it is causing some problem to your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor.
3. Not Doing exercise –
Many patients feel less motivated to do workouts/exercise, so they find excuses to skip it. But they don’t know the benefits of doing exercise daily.
Keeping yourself fit and fine is the need of the hour. Always make a rule , follow a disciplined time table for the day. Do workouts, yoga, meditation daily at least for 15-20 mins. Exercise helps you maintain a healthy weight and feel more energetic. It increases insulin sensitivity which helps in controlling blood sugar levels. Always monitor sugar levels whenever you do some workouts, this information may help the doctor to adjust insulin schedules to keep blood sugar levels steady. So, try to be active for about 30 minutes every day.
4. Missing the regular check-up –
This is the biggest mistake people do. Due to some reasons they either avoid or forget going to the clinic for check-ups. A diabetic patient has to keep themselves updated with blood sugar readings, their medications and doctor’s advise. As any negligence towards health would put one’s health at stake. Diabetes can affect many parts of the body the heart, kidneys, eyes, dental, and raises the risk of heart, kidney disease and gum problems.
Investigations, check-ups have to be done on regular basis. If there is any need to consult any specialist to treat one or more of these issues, your doctor may guide you regarding that. It’s also important to visit an eye doctor at least once a year. People with diabetes are more likely than others to have eye problems.
5. Not checking blood sugar properly –
Not checking blood sugar levels on time and in the right way would get the readings wrong and may create a big problem. So always check and make sure about the glucometer, glucose strips before checking the blood sugar levels. Follow all the hygiene practices and instructions before testing. Don’t squeeze your finger too hard to get a blood sample. Getting accurate test results is very important.
Always maintain a schedule for taking the insulin injections at the same time every day so the sugar levels are not affected. Always keep an eye on sugar levels from spiking too high or dropping too low. Different food types, different timings and activity grossly affect the sugar levels. Checking your blood sugar regularly will help you control your condition.
Fighting with diabetes is not really very difficult and the problems can be solved if treated at right time. People with diabetes can certainly lead a healthy and peaceful life by changing certain lifestyle patterns, following simple healthy rules. It requires the activities participation of both the doctor and the patient.