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Diabetes Unani management requires
awareness. Know what makes your blood
sugar level rise and fall — and how to
control these day-to-day factors.
When it comes to diabetes management, blood
sugar control is often the central theme. After
all, keeping your blood sugar level within your
target range can help you live a long and
healthy life. But do you know what makes your
blood sugar level rise and fall? The list is
sometimes surprising.
Food
Healthy eating is a cornerstone of any diabetes
management plan. But it’s not just what you
eat that affects your blood sugar level. How
much you eat and when you eat matters, too.
What to do :
Keep to a schedule
Your blood sugar
level is highest an hour or two after you eat,
and then begins to fall. But this predictable
pattern can work to your advantage. You can
help lessen the amount of change in your blood
sugar levels if you eat at the same time every
day, eat several small meals a day or eat
healthy snacks at regular times between meals.
Make every meal well-balanced
As
much as possible, plan for every meal to have
the right mix of starches, fruits and vegetables,
proteins, and fats. It’s especially important to
eat about the same amount of carbohydrates
at each meal and snack because they have a
big effect on blood sugar levels. Talk to your
doctor, nurse or dietitian about the best food
choices and appropriate balance.
Eat the right amount of foods
Learn
what portion size is appropriate for each type
of food. Simplify your meal planning by writing
down portions for the foods you eat often. Use
measuring cups or a scale to ensure proper
portion size.
Coordinate your meals and
medication
Too little food in comparison to
your diabetes medications — especially insulin
— may result in dangerously low blood sugar
(hypoglycemia). Too much food may cause your
blood sugar level to climb too high
(hyperglycemia). Talk to your diabetes health
care team about how to best coordinate meal
and medication schedules.
Exercise
Physical activity is another important part of your
diabetes management plan. When you
exercise, your muscles use sugar (glucose) for
energy. Regular physical activity also improves
your body’s response to insulin. These factors work together to lower your blood sugar level.
The more strenuous your workout, the longer
the effect lasts. But even light activities — such
as housework, gardening or being on your feet
for extended periods — can lower your blood
sugar level.
What to do:
Talk to your doctor about an exercise
plan
Ask your doctor about what type of
exercise is appropriate for you. If you’ve been
inactive for a long time, your doctor may want
to check the condition of your heart and feet
before advising you. He or she can recommend
the right balance of aerobic and musclestrengthening
exercise.
Keep an exercise schedule
Talk to
your doctor about the best time of day for you
to exercise so that your workout routine is
coordinated with your meal and medication
schedules.
Know your numbers
Talk to your
doctor about what blood sugar levels are
appropriate for you before you begin exercise.
Check your blood sugar level
Check
your blood sugar level before, during and after
exercise, especially if you take insulin or
medications that lower blood sugar. Be aware
of warning signs of low blood sugar, such as
feeling shaky, weak, confused,
lightheaded, irritable, anxious,
tired or hungry.
Stay hydrated
Drink
plenty of water while exercising
because dehydration can affect
blood sugar levels.
Be prepared
Always
have a small snack or glucose
pill with you during exercise in
case your blood sugar drops too low. Wear a medical identification bracelet
when you’re exercising.
Adjust your diabetes treatment plan
as needed.
If you take insulin, you may need
to adjust your insulin dose before exercising or
wait a few hours to exercise after injecting
insulin. Your doctor can advise you on
appropriate changes in your medication. You
may need to adjust treatment if you’ve
increased your exercise routine.
Medication
Insulin and other diabetes medications are
designed to lower your blood sugar level when
diet and exercise alone aren’t sufficient for
managing diabetes. But the effectiveness of
these medications depends on the timing and
size of the dose. And any medications you take
for conditions other than diabetes can affect
your blood sugar level, too.
What to do:
Store insulin properly
Insulin that’s
improperly stored or past its expiration date may
not be effective.
Report problems to your doctor
If
your diabetes medications cause your blood
sugar level to drop too low, the dosage or timing
may need to be adjusted.
Be cautious with new medications
If
you’re considering an overthe-counter
medication or your
doctor
prescribes a new drug
to
treat another condition —
such
as high blood pressure or
high
cholesterol — ask your
doctor
or pharmacist if the
medication
may affect your
blood
sugar level. Sometimes
an
alternate medication may
be
recommended
Illness
When you’re sick, your body produces stress-
related hormones that can help your body fight
the illness, but they can also raise the level of
blood sugar. Changes in your appetite and
normal activity may also complicate diabetes
management.
What to do:
Plan ahead
Work with your health care
team to create a sick-day plan. Include
instructions on what medications to take, how
often to measure your blood sugar and urine
ketone levels, how to adjust your medication
dosages, and when to call your doctor.
Continue to take your diabetes
medication
However, if you’re unable to eat
because of nausea or vomiting, contact your
doctor. In these situations, you may need to
temporarily stop taking your medication
because of risk of hypoglycemia.
Stick to your diabetes meal plan
If you
can, eating as usual will help you control your
blood sugar level. Keep a supply of foods that
are easy on your stomach, such as gelatin,
crackers, soups and applesauce. Drink lots of
water or other fluids that don’t add calories, such
as tea, to make sure you stay hydrated.
Alcohol
The liver normally releases stored sugar to
counteract falling blood sugar levels. But if your
liver is busy metabolizing alcohol, your blood
sugar level may not get the boost it needs.
Alcohol can result in low blood sugar shortly
after you drink and for as many as eight to 12
hours more.
What to do:
Get your doctor’s OK to drink alcohol
Alcohol can aggravate diabetes complications,
such as nerve damage and eye disease. But if
your diabetes is under control and your doctor
agrees, an occasional alcoholic drink with a
meal is fine.
Choose your drinks carefully
Light
beer and dry wines have fewer calories and
carbohydrates than do other alcoholic drinks.
If you prefer mixed drinks, stick with sugar-free
mixers — such as diet soda, diet tonic, club
soda or seltzer.
Tally your calories
Remember to
include the calories from any alcohol you drink
in your daily calorie count. Ask your doctor or dietitian how to incorporate calories from
alcohol into your diet plan.
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