Managing Diabetes
What Every Diabetic Person Must Watch
- Hypoglycaemia
Insulin and some diabetes medications can cause an excessive drop in blood glucose levels. Symptoms of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) experienced during wakefulness include: palpitations, pallor, perspiration, difficulty concentrating, weakness, vision problems, numbness, hunger, shakiness, confusion and even loss of consciousness and coma. Likewise, while asleep, you might suffer from unusual sweatiness, nightmares or headaches. If these symptoms occur, consult your doctor as soon as possible. - Diabetic Retinopathy
Poorly controlled diabetes can cause progressive retinopathy and lead to haemorrhages and blindness. It is therefore extremely important that you inform your doctor of any vision change and have your eyes checked regularly by an ophthalmologist to treat any eye problems. - Neuropathy
Diabetes, especially when poorly controlled, will impair the peripheral nervous system over time and give rise to problems, such as reduced sensation in the feet (leading to possible injury, scalds, unnoticed cuts, etc.), erectile dysfunction, etc. Your doctor will, from time to time, check for proper sensation in your feet and any nerve impairment. - Blood Circulation Problems
Poorly controlled diabetes can also cause blood circulation problems, such as blocked arteries, which can lead to complications such as angina, kidney problems, circulation problems in your legs (ranging from muscle cramps when walking to gangrene) and even possibly to a stroke. Your doctor will therefore examine your feet periodically to check for circulation problems or infection, and will analyse your urine to make sure your kidneys are functioning properly. - Hypertension
All diabetics must keep their blood pressure under control because elevated blood pressure increases cardiovascular risks. It is currently recommended that diabetics keep their blood pressure at or below 130/80. If necessary, your doctor can suggest medication to help you attain these values. - Hyperlipidemia
Abnormal lipid levels in the blood, particularly high LDL (bad cholesterol) levels and decreased HDL (good cholesterol) levels, increase risks for cardiovascular complications. It is currently recommended that diabetics have an LDL value below 2,5 mmol/L and keep the total/bad cholesterol ratio below 4,0. If necessary, your doctor can suggest medication to help you attain these values. - Lifestyle
People with diabetes must stop smoking, as smoking increases vascular complications (and causes bronchitis and lung cancer). Regular aerobic and isotonic exercise is an integral part of diabetes treatment because it increases cardiovascular capacity and lowers blood glucose levels. However, start slowly and consider undergoing a cardiovascular stress test before beginning an intense exercise program.