Diabetes mellitus is a disease that develops due to the immunity of body cells to sugar-lowering hormones. If the pancreas does not produce insulin at all, then type 1 diabetes is diagnosed. In other cases - the second type. How to cure diabetes and is it possible to get rid of it forever?
diet therapy
It is possible to cure diabetes at an early stage with the help of fasting and dietary treatment. Doctors recommend partial meals. 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;
- minimize the amount of salt consumed;
- make a diet so that half of the fats are of vegetable origin;
- limit sugary foods: sweets and cakes, ice cream, jam, soda, fruit juices;
- exclude fatty soups, muffins, red fish, sausages, hard cheeses, rice and oatmeal from the menu;
- eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals: nuts, vegetables, fruits.
Typically, the menu includes low-calorie foods with a minimal carbohydrate content. However, it is impossible to do without them completely. It is the source of energy in the body. Slow complex carbohydrates will bring benefits. They gradually raise blood glucose levels without overtaxing the pancreas.
It is desirable that foods rich in fiber are present in the diet of a patient with diabetes. This substance is useful for violations of metabolic processes in the body. Plant 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 plant 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 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 restoration of the body. Along with this, animal proteins damage kidney function, so do not exceed their amount.
The diet of diabetics also includes fats. They are found in meat products, fish, eggs.
insulin therapy
Treatment for type 1 diabetes involves injecting insulin. Immediately after the start of the therapy, the so-called honeymoon begins. During this period, blood sugar is kept within normal limits without regular injections. After a while she gets up again. If you do not lower the glucose level with insulin, then a coma and death occur.
To extend the favorable period for several years, administration of insulin in low doses (1-3 IU per day) is required. There are 4 main types of insulin: ultra-short, short-acting, intermediate and long-acting. Ultrashort is considered the fastest.
Insulin therapy is prescribed on an individual basis. Self-monitoring data of diabetics were 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 administered by injection and with the help of an insulin pump. The last method is more convenient: the pump is ideal for controlling diabetes in a child, because due to his age he cannot give himself injections.
Unlike traditional syringes, this device provides better diabetes control. This is a small device with a needle attached to a long thin tube. The needle is inserted under the skin, most often in the abdomen, and remains there. The pump is worn on the belt. It ensures a continuous flow of the drug into the blood at a certain speed. Change it every 3 days.
Medical treatment
Medicines other than insulin injections play a minor role in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. However, they ease the course of the disease. This is especially true for drugs from 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 above.
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 a heart attack.
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have been proven to increase blood sugar and bad cholesterol at the same time. Therefore, the patient is indicated to take statins. However, these drugs cause side reactions: memory problems, increased fatigue, functional disorders of the liver. A low-carbohydrate 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 both 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 - every day for 1 hour of training.
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 places restrictions on the choice of types of physical activity.
In type 1 diabetes, exercise has an unclear 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 grow. Therefore, check your blood glucose level with a glucometer every 30 minutes. Gradually you will understand how physical activity affects.
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. The second - supplies the body with essential vitamins and minerals. Mix 50 ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice with 5 quails or 1 chicken egg. Take the medicine once 30 minutes before meals. Treatment regimen: 3 days from taking the therapeutic composition, then 3 days off. Duration of therapy is 1 month.
- The healer's recipe. Required ingredients: 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 it to a glass container. Put it in a dark place for 2 weeks. Take 1 tbsp. 30 minutes before meals. Frequency of application - 3 times a day.
Lemon, parsley, oak, walnut leaves, burdock root, cinnamon can be used to treat diabetes.
- oak acorns. The composition of oak fruits includes a valuable substance tannin. It 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 into powder. Fill with boiled water and take 1 tbsp. 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 crushed leaves. Fill them with 500 ml of boiled water. Then boil the mixture for 15 minutes on low heat. Allow to cool and infuse for 40 minutes. After that, strain it and take 0. 5 tbsp. 3 times a day.
- cinnamon. Add 1 tablespoon cinnamon powder. boiling water. Let it bake 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 treatment course is not more than 7 days.
- Burdock juice. The plant effectively lowers blood glucose levels. Dig up the root of the young burdock. Wash well and grind the raw materials in a blender. Wrap the wheat 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
First and foremost 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 abundantly and deliciously, but do not overdo it. Stop eating with a slight feeling of hunger.
Don't skimp on glucometer test strips. Measure the 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 test for sugar can be performed in the laboratory, and then check your glucometer. The permissible deviation of a 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 safely inject insulin.
Do not be lazy to check the disease under stress, on business trips and other non-standard life situations. Keep a self-monitoring journal. Record the date, time, blood sugar level, what you ate, what physical activity was, what 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 with this. They are no less effective than drugs for reducing 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 that requires regular high doses of insulin.