Diabetes mellitus is a disease that arises due to the immunity of body cells to hormones that lower blood sugar. When the pancreas does not produce any insulin at all, type 1 diabetes is diagnosed. In other cases - the 2nd type. How to cure diabetes and is it possible to get rid of it forever?
diet therapy
With the help of fasting and dietary treatment, it is possible to cure diabetes at an early stage. Doctors recommend fractional nutrition. A diabetic should eat in small portions as often as possible (ideally 5-6 times a day). Based on body weight, the number of calories per day is calculated in the ratio of 25 kcal / kg.
In order to properly treat diabetes, it is recommended to adhere to the following principles:
- Quit drinking alcohol and smoking;
- minimize the amount of salt consumed;
- follow a diet in which half of the fats are of vegetable origin;
- Limit foods with sugar: cakes and candy, ice cream, jam, soda, fruit juices;
- exclude fatty broths, muffins, red fish, sausages, hard cheeses, rice and semolina from the menu;
- Eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals: nuts, vegetables, fruits.
Typically, the menu includes low-calorie foods with a minimum carbohydrate content. However, it is not entirely possible without them. It is the source of energy in the body. Complex slow carbohydrates bring benefits. They gradually increase blood sugar levels without overloading the pancreas.
It is desirable that high fiber foods are present in a diabetic's diet. This substance is useful in violations of metabolic processes in the body. Plant fibers slow down the absorption of excess glucose in the small intestine and reduce its concentration in the blood. It also removes toxins, toxins and excess water. If the patient needs to lose weight, vegetable cellulose is an excellent choice. The substance swells in the stomach and makes you feel full. A diabetic does not suffer from severe hunger. At the same time, fiber is low in calories.
One fifth of the food a diabetic eats should be protein. Proteins of plant and animal origin are involved in the restoration of the body. At the same time, animal proteins adversely affect kidney function, so do not exceed their amount.
The diabetic diet also contains fats. They are found in meat products, fish and eggs.
insulin therapy
Treatment for type 1 diabetes involves injecting insulin. Shortly after the start of therapy, the so-called honeymoon begins. During this time, blood sugar is kept within normal limits without regular injections. After a while it goes up again. If you do not lower glucose levels with insulin, a state of coma and death occurs.
In order to extend the favorable period by several years, it is necessary to give insulin in low doses (1-3 IU per day). There are 4 main types of insulin: ultra-short, short, medium and extended. Ultrashort is considered the fastest.
Insulin therapy is prescribed individually. The self-monitoring records of the diabetic are taken into account. The doctor examines how blood sugar changes throughout the day, what time the patient eats breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Preparations containing insulin are administered by injection and with the help of an insulin pump. The latter method is more convenient: the pump is ideal for controlling diabetes in a child, since his age does not allow him to give himself injections.
Unlike traditional syringes, this device offers better control of diabetes. This is a small device with a needle connected to a thin, long tube. The needle is inserted under the skin, usually in the abdomen, and left there. The pump is worn on the belt. It ensures a continuous flow of the drug into the blood at a specific rate. Change every 3 days.
Medical treatment
Medications other than insulin injections play a minor role in the management of type 1 diabetes. Nevertheless, they facilitate the course of the disease. This applies in particular to drugs from the class of biguanides.
For hypertension, patients with type 1 diabetes are prescribed angiotensin II receptor blockers or ACE inhibitors. These pills not only lower blood pressure, but also slow down the development of complications in the kidneys. It is advisable to take them with blood pressure indicators of 140/90 mm Hg. Art. and higher.
Cardiologists and therapists often prescribe acetylsalicylic acid to diabetics. The substance is taken daily in small doses. It is believed to reduce the risk of heart attack.
It has been proven that both type 1 and type 2 diabetes increase sugar and bad cholesterol at the same time. Therefore, the patient is shown taking statins. However, these drugs cause side effects: memory problems, increased fatigue, liver dysfunction. A low-carb diet is a good alternative to statins. It normalizes blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Physical activities
Exercise is an effective way to control type 1 diabetes. Patients need aerobic and anaerobic exercise. In the first case it is cross-country skiing, swimming, jogging, cycling. In the second - weight training in the gym. Combine aerobic activity with anaerobic activity every other day. Adults require at least 5 half-hour sessions per week. Children - daily for 1 hour training.
Start exercising only after consulting your doctor. Make sure that the heart can withstand such loads. To do this, record an EKG. If complications have already occurred in the legs, the kidneys or the eyesight, this limits the choice of types of movement.
In type 1 diabetes, exercise has an ambiguous effect on health. In some cases, they lower sugar for a long time, up to 36 hours after the end of the session. In others, however, they increase. Therefore, check the glucose level in the blood with a blood glucose meter every 30 minutes. Gradually you will understand how physical activity affects it.
folk methods
Folk remedies are also used to treat diabetes. Below are popular recipes.
- lemon and egg. The first component normalizes blood pressure and lowers blood sugar levels. The second - provides the body with essential vitamins and minerals. Mix 50ml freshly squeezed lemon juice with 5 quail eggs or 1 chicken egg. Take the remedy once 30 minutes before meals. Treatment regimen: 3 days of taking the therapeutic composition, then a 3-day break. The duration of therapy is 1 month.
- Healer Recipe. Required ingredients: 100 g lemon zest, 300 g parsley root (leaves will do), 300 g peeled garlic. Rinse the parsley roots thoroughly, peel the garlic and put everything through a meat grinder. Stir the resulting mixture and transfer to a glass container. Put in a dark place for 2 weeks. Take 1 tsp. 30 minutes before meals. Frequency of use - 3 times a day.
Lemon, parsley, acorns, walnut leaves, burdock root, cinnamon can be used to treat diabetes.
- oak acorns. The composition of oak fruits contains a valuable substance tannin. It actively fights inflammatory processes in the body, strengthens the cardiovascular system. peeling acorns. Dry the core in a hot oven. Grind the raw materials into a powder in a coffee grinder. Fill with boiled water and take 1 tsp. on an empty stomach before lunch and dinner. The end of the course of therapy is determined by blood tests.
- Decoction of walnut leaves. To prepare a drink you will need 1 tbsp. l. dried and crushed leaves. Fill them with 500 ml of boiled water. Then boil the mixture for 15 minutes over low heat. Let cool and leave for 40 minutes. After that, strain and take 0. 5 tbsp. 3 times a day.
- Cinammon. Pour cinnamon powder 1 tbsp. boiling water. Leave for 30 minutes. When the mixture has cooled, add honey (2 parts honey to 1 part cinnamon). Put the product in the fridge for 3 hours. After the specified time, divide the infusion into two parts. Drink one 30 minutes before breakfast. The second is before bed. The duration of treatment is no more than 7 days.
- burdock juice. The plant effectively lowers blood sugar levels. Dig up the root of the young burdock. Wash thoroughly and grind the raw materials in a blender. Wrap the pulp in several layers of gauze and squeeze out the juice. Take the drug 3 times a day, 15 ml. Pre-dilute with 250 ml of boiled water.
what not to do
The first and fundamental rule: take responsibility for your treatment. Follow a low-carb diet carefully. After eating, try to keep sugar no higher than 5. 5 mmol / l. If necessary, supplement the diet with low doses of insulin.
Don't restrict your calorie intake. Eat hearty and tasty, but not too much. Stop eating with a slight feeling of hunger.
Don't skimp on glucometer test strips. Measure your sugar level 2-3 times a day. Check the accuracy of your blood glucose meter regularly. Check the blood sugar level three times in a row. Differences in results should not be more than 5-10%. A blood test for sugar can also be carried out in the laboratory and then your blood glucose meter can be checked. The permissible deviation of a portable device is a maximum of 20% (at a sugar level of 4. 2 mmol/l).
Delaying the start of insulin therapy is a grave mistake. Diabetes complications also occur when glucose levels are 6. 0 mmol/L on an empty stomach in the morning or after a meal. Learn how to calculate dosages and safely inject insulin.
Do not be lazy to control the disease under stress, on business trips and in other unusual life situations. Keep a self-monitoring journal. Write down the date, time, blood sugar levels, what you ate, what physical activity you had, what insulin and how much you injected.
In the early stages, diabetes can be cured. Swimming, cycling, jogging and other physical activities are measures that help with this. They are no less effective than hypoglycemic drugs. A low-carb diet works just as well. In some cases, it helps get rid of the disease. The exception is the complicated type 1 diabetes. This is a lifelong diagnosis that requires high doses of insulin on a regular basis.