Deerghayu Foundation
under section 80G of income tax act in India.
Education for Diabetes Management
The stress of modern day living is causing enormous burden on healthcare globally. Poor eating habits, sleep deprivation and sedentary lifestyle has contributed to growth of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension leading to a literal explosion of cases with cardiovascular complications.
The situation is worse in a country like India where historically the ratio of a physician to population was 100000 to 1. With lack of expertise in complete disease management from a provider side and lack of understanding of lifestyle diseases among people has created a complicated situation. Experts forecast that by 2020 nearly half the deaths will occur from complications of lifestyle diseases in India.
What is needed today is an extension of focus from organ-based expertise – endocrinology, nephrology, and cardiology to a more holistic approach where physicians can provide holistic care in a clinical setting helping people avoid medical complications which require expensive treatment in hospitals. This new approach requires a dedicated team effort of physician, dietician, yoga experts and physiotherapists who work across their traditional silos.
Deerghayu Advanced Diabetes Clinic is one such example that is executing this approach for its patient’s benefit.
Taking Care of Your Diabetes Every Day
Do these things every day to take care of your diabetes:
- Follow your diet plan.
- Be physically active.
- Take your diabetes medicines every day.
- Check your blood glucose as recommended.
- Take other tests for your diabetes.
- Keep daily records.
Experts say most people with diabetes should try to keep their blood glucose level as close as possible to the level of someone who doesn’t have diabetes. The closer to normal your blood glucose is, the lower your chances are of developing serious health problems.
Your health care team at Deerghayu Lifestyle clinic will help you learn how to reach your target blood glucose range.
Follow your diet plan
You should have your own meal plan. Your dietitian at Deerghyu Advanced Diabetes Clinic can help you plan meals that include foods that you and your family like to eat and that are good for you too. The dietician will be knowledgeable to customize the plan based on your preference Vegetarian, non-vegetarian, Jain diet etc.
People with diabetes don’t need to eat special foods. The foods on your meal plan are good for everyone in your family! Making wise food choices will help you reach and stay at a weight that’s good for your body keep your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol under control prevent heart disease
Be Physically Active
Physical activity helps you stay healthy. Try walking, swimming, dancing, riding a bicycle, or even household chores. You can get exercise when you clean your house or work in the garden. Physical activity is especially good for people with diabetes because it
- helps keep weight down
- helps insulin work better to lower blood glucose
- is good for your heart and lungs
- gives you more energy
Before you begin exercising, talk with your doctor. Your doctor may check your heart and your feet to be sure you have no special problems. If you have high blood pressure or eye problems, some exercises like weightlifting may not be safe. Your health care team at Deerghyu Advanced Diabetes Clinic can help you find safe exercises. Being active helps you stay healthy.
Tip 1: Try to be active almost every day for a total of about 30 minutes. If you haven’t been very active lately, begin slowly. Start with 5 to 10 minutes, and then add more time. Or exercise for 10 minutes, three times a day.
Tip 2: If you use insulin or take diabetes pills that help your body make insulin, you may need to eat a snack before you exercise. Check your blood glucose before you exercise. If your blood glucose is below 100, have a snack before you exercise.
Take Your Diabetes Medicines Every Day
Three kinds of diabetes medicines can help you reach your blood glucose targets: pills, insulin, and other injectable medicines. Many people with type 2 diabetes take pills to help keep blood glucose in their target range.
If You Take Diabetes Pills
If your body makes insulin but the insulin doesn’t lower your blood glucose enough, you may need diabetes pills. Some pills are taken once a day, and others are taken more often.
Always consult with an expert physician before changing the dose or frequency of your medicine.
Sometimes, people who take diabetes pills may need insulin for a while. If you get sick or have surgery, the diabetes pills may no longer work to lower your blood glucose.
You may be able to stop taking diabetes pills if you lose weight. Losing 5 or 7 kg can help you reach your target blood glucose levels.
Always check with your doctor before you stop taking your diabetes pills.
If You Use Insulin
You need insulin if your body has stopped making insulin or if it doesn’t make enough. Everyone with type 1 diabetes needs insulin, and many people with type 2 diabetes do too. Some women with gestational diabetes also need to take insulin.
If You Use Other Injectable Medicines
Some people with diabetes use other injectable medicines to reach their blood glucose targets. These medicines are not substitutes for insulin.
If You Don’t Use Pills, Insulin, or Other Injectable Medicines
Many people with type 2 diabetes don’t need diabetes medicines.
They can take care of their diabetes by using a meal plan and exercising regularly.
Check Your Blood Glucose as Recommended
You’ll want to know how well you’re taking care of your diabetes. One way to find out is to check your blood to see how much glucose is in it. If your blood has too much or too little glucose, you may need a change in your meal plan, physical activity plan, or medicines.
Checking your blood glucose will help you see if your diabetes treatment plan is working. Ask your doctor how often you should check your blood glucose. Some people check their blood glucose once a day. Others do it three or four times a day. You may check before and after eating, before bed, and sometimes in the middle of the night.
Your doctor at Deerghyu Advanced Diabetes Clinic will show you how to check your blood using a blood glucose meter.
Take Other Tests for Your Diabetes
Tests for Ketones
You may need to check your blood or urine for ketones if you’re sick or if your blood glucose is above 240. Your body makes ketones when you burn fat instead of glucose for energy. Ketones can make you very sick. If you have ketones, you are at risk for having a serious condition called ketoacidosis. If ketoacidosis isn’t treated, it can cause death. Signs of ketoacidosis are vomiting, weakness, fast breathing, and a sweet smell on the breath. Ketoacidosis is more likely to develop in people with type 1 diabetes.
Your doctor at Deerghyu Advanced Diabetes Clinic can advise if this test is needed and will show you how to test for ketones.
The HbA1C test
Another test for blood glucose, the HbA1C, shows what your average blood glucose was for the past 2 to 3 months. This test is available at Deerghyu Advanced Diabetes Clinic and at many other reputed labs.. Have this test done at least twice a year.
Ask your doctor what your A1C test showed. A result of below 7 usually means that your diabetes treatment is working well and your blood glucose is under control. If your A1C is higher, your blood glucose may be too high. You’ll then have a greater risk of having diabetes problems, like kidney damage. You may need a change in your diet plan, physical activity plan, or diabetes medicines.
The physicians at Deerghyu Advanced Diabetes Clinic will advise you about what your target should be.
Keep Daily Records
Make copies of the daily diabetes record page. Then write down the results of your blood glucose checks every day. You may also want to write down what you ate, how you felt, and whether you exercised.
By keeping daily records of your blood glucose checks, you can tell how well you’re taking care of your diabetes.
Show your blood glucose records to your health care team at Deerghyu Advanced Diabetes Clinic. They will use your records to see whether you need changes in your diabetes medicines or your diet plan.
Contact Us
7, Technocrat Society Bedla Road
Udaipur, Rajasthan (313001) INDIA