Diabetes mellitus is a disease that develops due to the immunity of the body's cells to the sugar-reducing hormone. If the pancreas does not produce insulin, type 1 diabetes is diagnosed. In other cases - the 2nd type. How to cure diabetes and is it possible to get rid of it for good?
diet therapy
It is possible to cure diabetes at an early stage with the help of fasting and dietary treatment. Doctors recommend fractional nutrition. 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 proportion of 25 kcal / kg.
To treat diabetes correctly, it is recommended to follow the following principles:
- stop drinking alcohol and smoking;
- minimize the amount of salt consumed;
- diet so that half of the fat is of vegetable origin;
- limit sugary foods: cakes and sweets, ice cream, jellies, soft drinks, 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 sub-caloric foods with a minimal carbohydrate content. However, it is impossible to do without them completely. It is the body's energy source. Slow complex carbs will bring benefits. They gradually increase blood glucose levels without straining the pancreas.
It is desirable that foods rich in fiber are present in the diet of the diabetic patient. This substance is useful for violations of metabolic processes in the body. Vegetable fiber slows down the absorption of excess glucose in the small intestine, reduces its concentration in the blood. It also removes toxins, toxins and excess water. If the patient needs to lose weight, 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 plant and animal origin are involved in the restoration of the body. Along with this, animal proteins impair kidney function, so do not exceed their amount.
The diabetic diet also includes fats. They are found in meat products, fish, eggs.
insulin therapy
Treatment for type 1 diabetes involves injecting insulin. Shortly after the start of therapy, the so-called honeymoon begins. During this period, blood sugar is kept within normal limits without regular injections. After a while it goes up again. If you don't lower your glucose level with insulin, a coma and death state ensues.
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: ultra-short, short, medium and extended. The ultrashort is considered the fastest.
Insulin therapy is prescribed individually. Diabetic self-monitoring records are taken into account. The doctor studies how blood glucose changes throughout the day, 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 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 control of diabetes. 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 used on the belt. It provides a continuous flow of the drug into the blood at a certain rate. Change it every 3 days.
Medical treatment
Medications other than insulin injections play a minor 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 the development of kidney complications. It is advisable to take them with blood pressure indicators of 140/90 mm Hg. Art. It's higher.
Cardiologists and therapists often prescribe aspirin for diabetics. The substance is taken daily in small doses. It is believed to reduce the risk of a heart attack.
It is proven that both type 1 and type 2 diabetes simultaneously increase sugar and bad cholesterol. Therefore, the patient is shown taking statins. However, these drugs cause side reactions: memory problems, increased fatigue, liver functional disorders. 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 manage type 1 diabetes. Patients need both aerobic and anaerobic exercise. In the first case, it's 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 - daily for 1 hour of training.
Start exercising only after consulting your doctor. Make sure the heart can withstand such loads. To do this, take an electrocardiogram. 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 lower the sugar for a long time, up to 36 hours after the session ends. In others, on the contrary, they increase. Therefore, every 30 minutes, check your blood glucose level with a glucometer. Gradually, you will understand how physical activity affects you.
popular 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 - provides the body with essential vitamins and minerals. Mix 50 ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice with 5 quail eggs or 1 chicken egg. Take the medicine once 30 minutes before meals. Treatment regimen: 3 days of ingestion of the therapeutic composition, then 3 days off. The duration of therapy is 1 month.
- healer recipe. Ingredients needed: 100 g of lemon zest, 300 g of parsley root (leaves will do), 300 g of peeled garlic. Wash the parsley roots well, peel the garlic and pass everything through a meat grinder. Shake the resulting mixture and transfer to a glass container. Place it 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 acorns includes a valuable substance of 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 powder 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.
- Walnut leaf decoction. To prepare a drink, you need 1 tbsp. I. 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 infuse for 40 minutes. After that, strain and take 0. 5 tbsp. 3 times a day.
- Lower leg. Pour ground cinnamon 1 tbsp. boiling water. Let it ferment for 30 minutes. When the mixture has cooled, add the 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 the course of treatment is not more than 7 days.
- burdock juice. The plant effectively lowers blood glucose levels. Dig up the young burdock root. Wash well and grind the raw material in a blender. Wrap the porridge in several layers of cheesecloth 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 basic rule: take responsibility for your treatment. Follow a low carb diet carefully. After eating, try to keep your sugar no higher than 5. 5 mmol/l. If necessary, supplement the diet with low doses of insulin.
Don't limit your calorie intake. Eat healthy and tasty, but don't overeat. Stop eating with a slight feeling of hunger.
Don't skimp on glucometer test strips. Measure your sugar levels 2-3 times a day every day. Periodically check the accuracy of your glucometer. Check blood sugar levels 3 times in a row. Differences in results should not exceed 5-10%. Also, a blood test for sugar can be performed in the lab and then check your glucometer. The allowable 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 gross 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 dosages and how to safely inject insulin.
Don't be lazy about managing the disease under stress, on business trips and other non-standard life situations. Keep a self-control journal. Mark the date, time, blood sugar levels, what you ate, what physical activity you did, 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 sugar-lowering medications. 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.