Diabetes mellitus is a disease that develops due to the immunity of body cells to the hormone that lowers sugar. If the pancreas does not produce insulin at all, it is diagnosed as type 1 diabetes. In other cases - type 2. How to cure diabetes and is it possible to get rid of it forever?
dietary therapy
Diabetes can be cured in the early stages with the help of fasting and diet. Doctors recommend a fractional diet. 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 adhere to the following principles:
- stop drinking alcohol and smoking;
- reduce the amount of salt consumed;
- make a diet so that half of the fat is of vegetable origin;
- limit foods with sugar: cakes and sweets, ice cream, jam, soda, fruit juices;
- exclude fatty soups, 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 sub-calorie foods with minimal carbohydrates. However, it is impossible 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 that foods rich in fiber are present in the diet of diabetics. This substance is useful for breaking metabolic processes in the body. Plant fibers slow down the absorption of excess glucose in the small intestine, reducing 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 severe hunger. At the same time, fiber has few calories.
A fifth of the food consumed by a diabetic should be protein. Proteins of plant and animal origin are involved in the restoration of the organism. In addition, animal proteins disrupt the work of the kidneys, so do not exceed their amount.
A diabetic 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 glucose level with insulin, coma and death occur.
To extend the favorable period for several years, it is necessary to administer insulin in small doses (1-3 IU per day). There are 4 main types of insulin: ultrashort, short, intermediate and long-acting. Ultrashort is considered the fastest.
Insulin therapy is prescribed on an individual basis. Self-monitoring records of diabetics are taken into account. The doctor studies how blood glucose changes during the day, at what time the patient eats breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Preparations containing insulin are given by injection and with the help of an insulin pump. The last method is more suitable: the pump is ideal for controlling diabetes in a child, because he cannot give himself injections due to his age.
Unlike traditional syringes, this device enables better control of diabetes. This is a small device with a needle attached to a thin long tube. The needle is inserted under the skin, usually in the abdomen, and remains there. The pump is worn on a belt. It allows the continuous flow of medicine into the blood at a certain speed. Change it every 3 days.
Treatment
Medicines other than insulin injections play a smaller role in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. However, they ease the course of the disease. This especially applies to drugs from the biguanide class.
For hypertension, patients with type 1 diabetes are prescribed angiotensin II receptor blockers or ACE inhibitors. These tablets 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 more.
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.
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have been proven to increase sugar and bad cholesterol at the same time. Therefore, the patient was shown taking a statin. However, these drugs cause side effects: memory problems, increased fatigue, functional liver disorders. A low-carbohydrate 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, running, cycling. In the second - strength training in the gym. Combine aerobic activities with anaerobic activities every other day. Adults need at least 5 half-hour sessions per week. Children - 1 hour of training per day.
Start exercising only after consulting your doctor. Make sure the heart can withstand such loads. To do this, do an EKG. If complications have already developed on the legs, kidneys or vision, this imposes restrictions on the choice of the type of physical activity.
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, 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 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 glucose levels. Second - supplies the body with essential vitamins and minerals. Mix 50 ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice with 5 quail or 1 chicken egg. Take the medicine once 30 minutes before eating. Treatment regimen: 3 days of taking the therapeutic composition, then a 3-day break. Duration of therapy is 1 month.
- Healer Recipe. Required ingredients: 100 g of lemon peel, 300 g of parsley root (leaves will also be included), 300 g of peeled garlic. Wash the parsley root well, peel the garlic and pass everything through a meat grinder. Mix the resulting mixture and transfer it to a glass container. Put in a dark place for 2 weeks. Take 1 tsp. 30 minutes before meals. Frequency of application - 3 times a day.
Lemon, parsley, oak acorns, walnut leaves, burdock root, cinnamon can be used to treat diabetes.
- oak acorn. The composition of oak fruits includes the valuable substance tannin. It actively fights against inflammatory processes in the body, strengthens the cardiovascular system. Peel the acorns. Dry the core in a heated oven. Grind the raw materials into a powder in a coffee grinder. Fill with boiled water and take 1 teaspoon. on an empty stomach before lunch and dinner. The end of therapy is determined by blood analysis.
- Decoction of walnut leaves. To prepare the drink, you need 1 tablespoon. l. dried and crushed leaves. Fill them with 500 ml of boiled water. Then cook the mixture for 15 minutes on low heat. Leave to cool and give 40 minutes. After that, strain and take 0. 5 tbsp. 3 times a day.
- Cinnamon. Pour cinnamon powder 1 spoon. boiling water. Let it cook for 30 minutes. When the mixture has cooled, add honey (2 parts honey to 1 part cinnamon). Place 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 course of treatment is not longer than 7 days.
- Burdock juice. The plant effectively lowers blood glucose levels. Dig up the root of a young thistle. Thoroughly wash and grind the raw materials in a blender. Wrap the porridge in several layers of cheesecloth and squeeze out the juice. The medicine is taken 3 times a day for 15 ml. Dilute it beforehand with 250 ml of boiled water.
What not to do
First and foremost rule: take responsibility for your treatment. Follow a low-carb diet carefully. After eating, try not to have sugar higher than 5. 5 mmol/l. If necessary, supplement the diet with small doses of insulin.
Don't restrict your calorie intake. Eat abundantly and deliciously, but do not overeat. Stop eating when you feel slightly hungry.
Don't skimp on glucometer test strips. Measure your sugar level 2-3 times a day every day. Periodically check the accuracy of your glucometer. Check your blood sugar level 3 times in a row. Differences in results should not be more than 5-10%. Also, a blood sugar test can be done in the laboratory, and then your glucometer can be checked. The permissible deviation of the portable device is not more than 20% (with sugar values of 4. 2 mmol/l).
Delaying the start of insulin therapy is a big mistake. Complications of diabetes occur even if the glucose level on an empty stomach in the morning or after a meal is 6. 0 mmol/L. Learn how to calculate doses and how to inject insulin safely.
Do not be lazy to control the disease under stress, on business trips and other non-standard life situations. Keep a self-monitoring journal. Mark the date, time, blood sugar level, what you ate, what your physical activity was like, which insulin and how much you injected.
In the early stages, diabetes can be cured. Swimming, cycling, running and other types of physical activity are measures that will help in this. They are no less effective than sugar-lowering drugs. 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 that requires regular high doses of insulin.