Do you remember a time when your doctor told you you had diabetes? The first thing must be to change your diet. Those with a sweet tooth can have a hard time because anything sugar related is usually cut out of your diet, especially if you have type 2 diabetes. Being a diabetic, especially if you’re older, means more than curbing your sugar cravings. Most people with diabetes eventually develop other health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart, kidney and circulatory problems, according to an expert. Don’t worry because you can control your diabetes and other health conditions.
It is often noted that if a person has diabetes, he or she also has high blood pressure. Health Shots checked with Dr Tarun Sahni, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi.
Most people with diabetes eventually develop other health problems
Don’t be shocked if you have diabetes and high blood pressure or other medical conditions. Dr. Sahni notes that high blood sugar or diabetes can lead to many complications, including diabetic eye and kidney disease, and can even make them worse. He shared that most people with diabetes eventually develop “high blood pressure, as well as other heart, kidney and circulatory problems.”
He further explained that diabetes damages arteries and makes them the target of hardening, known as atherosclerosis. This in turn can lead to high blood pressure. Left untreated, it can lead to problems such as blood vessel damage, kidney failure, and even heart attack.
Older adults with diabetes can manage their blood sugar levels through diet and exercise, although they may need diabetes medicine or insulin injections as well as medication to manage other conditions, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
diabetes and kidney stones
Some people have even found a link between diabetes and kidney or gallbladder stones. Insulin is an important hormone that keeps blood sugar levels in a healthy range, and high blood sugar can lead to problems throughout the body, including the kidneys, according to experts.
He shared that studies have shown that having diabetes more than doubles the chances of developing kidney stones, and studies have also shown that using insulin to treat diabetes increases the chances of developing kidney stones. He shared that people with severe diabetes are more likely to develop kidney stones because diabetics have the highest blood sugar levels.
Diabetes also increases risk of many heart diseases
In addition to heart attack, coronary artery disease with chest pain (angina), stroke, and narrowing of arteries (atherosclerosis) are some of the heart problems people with diabetes may face.
Tips for Managing Diabetes and Other Health Conditions
1. Choose healthy food
Diet is the first thing you should focus on as a diabetic because what people eat affects blood sugar levels, so it’s important to know what’s best for you, how much you can eat, and when. Foods rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, fish and lean meats are all good choices. If you eat a lot of red meat, poultry, and seafood, they can raise uric acid levels.
2. Be active
A sedentary lifestyle can indeed lead to many health problems, but if you have diabetes, you should definitely make exercise a priority. Walking and other forms of daily exercise can help improve blood sugar levels, especially in older adults with diabetes, Sahni said.
Also read: Sitting too long?Know 7 Things That Might Be Happening to Your Body
3. Take medicine
A lot of people think that if they don’t feel pain or feel fine, they’re fine without taking their medicines, but that’s not true! Even if you feel well, you should take your medicine as prescribed.
4. Control blood pressure
To manage your blood pressure, you need to know what it is, so check your blood pressure often.
5. Control cholesterol
Experts recommend that people over the age of 60 have at least one blood test per year to check cholesterol and triglyceride levels. This is important because high levels may even increase your risk of heart disease.
6. Quit smoking
Yes, this is a habit you should stay away from. This is bad because smoking increases the risk of many health problems, including heart attack and stroke.
Also read: 4 reasons why you need to quit smoking
7. Get an annual flu shot
An annual flu shot helps keep older adults healthy, and if you’re over 65, make sure you get your pneumonia shot.
8. Take care of your teeth and gums
Avoid serious problems by brushing and flossing daily, and having your teeth and gums checked by your dentist twice a year.
9. Protect your skin
Keep the skin clean and dry with a skin softener. Also, watch out for small cuts and bruises to prevent infection.
10. Drink plenty of water
Staying hydrated is one of the best ways to stop stones from forming, so try drinking six to eight glasses of water a day.
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