Diabetes mellitus is a disease that develops due to the immunity of body cells to hypoglycemic hormone. If the pancreas does not produce insulin at all, then type 1 diabetes is diagnosed. In other cases - the 2nd type. How to cure diabetes and is it possible to get rid of it permanently?
dietetic
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 ratio of 25 kcal / kg.
To properly treat diabetes, it is recommended to adhere to the following principles:
- stop drinking alcohol and smoking;
- minimize the amount of salt consumed;
- diet so that half of the fats are of vegetable origin;
- limit sugary foods: cakes and sweets, ice creams, jams, sodas, 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.
As a rule, the menu includes low-calorie foods with a minimum carbohydrate content. However, it is impossible to do without it completely. It is the body's source of energy. Slow complex carbohydrates will provide benefits. They gradually increase blood sugar without overloading the pancreas.
It is desirable that foods rich in fiber be present in the diet of a diabetic patient. This substance is useful for violations 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, vegetable cellulose is an excellent choice. The substance swells in the stomach and gives 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 a diabetic eats should be protein. Proteins of vegetable and animal origin contribute to the restoration of the organism. Along with this, animal protein impairs 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
The treatment for type 1 diabetes is to inject insulin. Shortly after the start of therapy, the so-called honeymoon begins. During this period, blood sugar levels are maintained within normal limits without regular injections. After a while, it goes up. If you do not reduce the glucose level with insulin, a state of coma and death occurs.
To prolong the favorable period for several years, it is necessary to administer low-dose insulin (1-3 IU per day). There are 4 main types of insulin: ultrashort, short, medium and long. Ultrashort is considered the fastest.
Insulin therapy is prescribed on a case-by-case basis. The diabetic's self-monitoring records are taken into account. The doctor studies the development of blood sugar levels throughout the day, what time the patient eats breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Preparations containing insulin are administered by injection and using an insulin pump. This last method is more practical: 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 allows better control of diabetes. It 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 stays there. The pump is worn on the belt. It provides a continuous flow of the drug into the blood at a given rate. Change it every 3 days.
Medical treatment
Medications other than insulin injections play a minor role in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. Nevertheless, they facilitate the progression of the disease. This is especially true for drugs of 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 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.
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have been proven to simultaneously increase sugar and bad cholesterol. Therefore, the patient takes statins. However, these drugs cause adverse reactions: memory problems, increased fatigue, functional disorders of the liver. A low carbohydrate diet is a good alternative to statins. It normalizes blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Physical activity
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, jogging, 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 that the heart can withstand such loads. To do this, do 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 from the end of the session. In others, on the contrary, they increase. Therefore, every 30 minutes check the blood glucose level with a glucometer. 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. 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 remedy once 30 minutes before meals. Treatment regimen: 3 days of taking the therapeutic composition, then 3 days of rest. The duration of treatment is 1 month.
- Healer Recipe. Ingredients needed: 100 g lemon zest, 300 g parsley root (leaves will do), 300 g peeled garlic. Thoroughly rinse the parsley roots, peel the garlic and pass everything through a meat grinder. Shake the resulting mixture and transfer 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 acorns, walnut leaves, burdock root, cinnamon can be used to treat diabetes.
- oak acorns. The composition of oak fruits 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 grinder into a powder. Fill with boiled water and take 1 tbsp. on an empty stomach before lunch and dinner. Completion of treatment is determined by blood tests.
- Decoction of walnut leaves. 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. Leave to cool and infuse for 40 minutes. After that, strain and take 0. 5 tbsp. 3 times a day.
- Cinnamon. Pour the cinnamon powder 1 tbsp. boiling water. Leave to infuse for 30 minutes. Once the mixture has cooled, add the 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 treatment does not exceed 7 days.
- burdock juice. The herb effectively lowers blood glucose levels. Dig up the root of young burdock. Thoroughly wash and grind the raw materials in a blender. Wrap the oatmeal in several layers of gauze and squeeze the juice. Take the drug 3 times a day, 15 ml. Pre-dilute with 250 ml of boiled water.
What you should not do
First basic rule: take responsibility for its treatment. Carefully follow a low carbohydrate diet. After eating, try not to exceed 5. 5 mmol / l of sugar. If necessary, supplement the diet with low doses of insulin.
Don't limit your calorie intake. Eat hearty and tasty, but don't overeat. Stop eating with a slight feeling of hunger.
Don't skimp on glucometer test strips. Measure your sugar level 2-3 times a day every day. Periodically check the accuracy of your meter. Check their blood sugar 3 times in a row. Differences in results should not exceed 5-10%. Also, a blood test for sugar may be done in the lab and then check your glucometer. The permissible deviation of a portable device is no 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 fasting glucose level in the morning or after a meal is 6. 0 mmol/L. Learn how to calculate doses and inject insulin safely.
Do not be lazy to control the disease under stress, on business trips and in other non-standard life situations. Keep a self-control journal. Record the date, time, blood sugar, what you ate, how active you were, 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. They are no less effective than hypoglycemic 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 requiring regular high doses of insulin.