Diabetes mellitus is a disease that develops due to the immunity of body cells to the sugar-lowering hormone. If the pancreas does not produce insulin at all, then type 1 diabetes is diagnosed. In other cases, type 2. How to cure diabetes and is it possible to get rid of it forever?
dietary therapy
It is possible to cure diabetes in the early stages with the help of fasting and dietary treatment. Doctors recommend fractional feeding. A diabetic should eat as often as possible (ideally 5-6 times a day) in small portions. Based on body weight, the number of calories per day is calculated in the ratio of 25 kcal / kg.
For the proper treatment of diabetes, it is recommended to follow the following principles:
- stop drinking alcohol and smoking;
- minimize the amount of salt consumed;
- make a diet so that half of the fat is of vegetable origin;
- limit foods with sugar: cakes and pastries, ice cream, jam, carbonated drinks, fruit juices;
- exclude fatty broths, buns, red fish, sausages, hard cheeses, rice and semolina from the menu;
- eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals: nuts, vegetables, fruits.
Usually, the menu includes low-calorie foods with minimal carbohydrate content. However, it is impossible to do without them completely. It is the source of energy in the body. Complex slow carbohydrates will bring benefits. They gradually increase the level of glucose in the blood without overloading the pancreas.
It is desirable to include foods rich in fiber in the diet of a diabetic patient. This substance is useful for disorders of metabolic processes in the body. Vegetable fibers slow down the absorption of excess glucose in the small intestine, reduce its concentration in the blood. It also removes toxins, toxins and excess water. If the patient needs to lose weight, then vegetable cellulose is an excellent choice. The substance swells in the stomach and provides a feeling of satiety. A diabetic does not suffer from intense hunger. At the same time, fiber is low in calories.
One fifth of the food consumed by a diabetic should be protein. Proteins of vegetable and animal origin are involved in the recovery of the body. Along with this, animal proteins damage kidney function, so do not exceed their amount.
The diabetes diet also includes fat. They are found in meat products, fish, eggs.
insulin therapy
Treatment for type 1 diabetes involves injecting insulin. Shortly after the start of the therapy, the so-called honeymoon begins. During this period, blood sugar is maintained within normal limits without regular injections. After a while it rises again. If you do not reduce the level of glucose with insulin, then a state of coma and death occurs.
To extend the favorable period for several years, it is necessary to administer insulin in low doses (1-3 IU per day). There are 4 main types of insulin: ultrashort, short, medium and long-acting. Ultrashort is considered the fastest.
Insulin therapy is prescribed individually. Diabetic self-monitoring records are taken into account. The doctor studies how blood sugar changes during the day, at what time the patient has breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Insulin-containing preparations 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 due to his age he cannot give himself injections.
Unlike traditional syringes, this device provides better diabetes control. It is a small device with a needle connected to a thin long tube. The needle is inserted subcutaneously, most often in the abdomen, and remains there. The pump is worn on the belt. It ensures a continuous flow of the drug in the blood at a certain rate. Change it every 3 days.
Medical treatment
Medicines, other than insulin injections, play a secondary role in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. However, they facilitate the course of the disease. This is especially true for drugs in the biguanide class.
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 kidney complications. It is recommended to take them with blood pressure indicators of 140/90 mm Hg. Art. and higher.
Cardiologists and therapists often prescribe acetylsalicylic acid for diabetics. The substance is taken daily in small doses. It is believed to reduce the risk of heart attack.
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have been shown to raise blood sugar and bad cholesterol at the same time. Therefore, the patient is indicated to take statins. However, these drugs cause side effects: memory problems, increased fatigue, functional disorders of the liver. A low-carb diet is a good alternative to statins. 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 - strength training in the gym. Combine aerobic and anaerobic activities every other day. Adults need at least 5 half-hour sessions per week. Children - 1 hour of training daily.
Start exercising only after consulting your doctor. Make sure that the heart can withstand such loads. To do this, take an EKG. If complications have already developed in the legs, kidneys or vision, this imposes restrictions on the choice of types of physical activity.
In type 1 diabetes, exercise has an ambiguous effect on health. In some cases, they reduce sugar for a long time, up to 36 hours from the end of the session. In others, on the contrary, they increase. Therefore, check your blood glucose level with a glucometer every 30 minutes. You will gradually understand how physical activity affects you.
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 the level of glucose in the blood. The second - supplies the body with the necessary vitamins and minerals. Mix 50 ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice with 5 quail or 1 hen's eggs. Take the medicine once 30 minutes before a meal. Treatment regimen: 3 days of taking the therapeutic composition, then 3 days of rest. The duration of therapy is 1 month.
- A healing prescription. Ingredients needed: 100 g lemon peel, 300 g parsley root (leaves will do), 300 g peeled garlic. Rinse the parsley roots thoroughly, peel the garlic and pass everything through a meat grinder. Stir the resulting mixture and transfer to a glass container. Place in a dark place for 2 weeks. Take 1 tsp 30 minutes before meals. Frequency of application - 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 includes a valuable substance tannin. Actively fights inflammatory processes in the body, strengthens the cardiovascular system. Peel the acorns. Dry the core in a hot oven. Grind the raw materials in a coffee grinder to a powder. 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 need 1 tablespoon. l dried and ground leaves. Pour them with 500 ml of boiled water. The mixture is then boiled for 15 minutes over low heat. Leave to cool and insist for 40 minutes. Then strain and take 0. 5 tbsp. 3 times a day.
- cinnamon. Pour cinnamon powder into 1 tbsp of boiling water. Let it boil for 30 minutes. When the mixture has cooled, add honey (2 parts honey to 1 part cinnamon). Put the product in the refrigerator 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 the treatment course is no more than 7 days.
- Burdock juice. The plant effectively reduces blood sugar levels. Dig up a young burdock root. Wash well and grind the raw materials in a blender. Wrap the pulp in several layers of cheesecloth and squeeze out the juice. Take the medicine 3 times a day, 15 ml. Dilute it beforehand with 250 ml of boiled water.
What not to do
The first and foremost rule: take responsibility for your treatment. Follow a low-carb diet carefully. After a meal, try to keep sugar no higher than 5. 5 mmol/l. If necessary, supplement the diet with low-dose insulin.
Don't restrict your calorie intake. Eat abundantly and tasty, but do not overeat. Stop eating with a slight feeling of hunger.
Don't skimp on glucose meter test strips. Measure your sugar level 2-3 times a day every day. Periodically check the accuracy of your meter. Check their blood sugar levels 3 times in a row. Differences in results should not be more than 5-10%. You can also take a blood test for sugar in the laboratory and then check the meter. The permissible deviation of a portable device is no more than 20% (with sugar values of 4. 2 mmol / l).
Postponing the start of insulin therapy is a gross mistake. Complications of diabetes occur even if the morning fasting or postprandial glucose level is 6. 0 mmol/L. Learn how to calculate doses and how to safely inject insulin.
Do not be lazy to control the disease under stress, on business trips and other non-standard life situations. Keep a self-monitoring journal. Note the date, time, blood sugar levels, what you ate, what physical activity was done, what insulin and how much you injected.
In the early stages, diabetes can be cured. Swimming, cycling, jogging and other types of physical activity are measures that will help with this. They are no less effective than drugs for lowering sugar. A low-carb diet works just as well. In some cases, it helps to get rid of the disease. The exception is complicated type 1 diabetes. This is a lifelong diagnosis requiring regular high doses of insulin.