Diabetes mellitus is a disease that develops due to the immunity of body cells to sugar-lowering 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 forever?
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 ratio of 25 kcal / kg.
To treat diabetes correctly, 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 foods with sugar: cakes and sweets, ice cream, jam, soda, 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-calorie foods with a minimum 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 blood glucose levels without overloading the pancreas.
It is desirable that foods rich in fiber are present in the diet of a 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, 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 is low in 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 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 rises again. If you do not lower the glucose level with insulin, then a state of coma and death occurs.
To extend the favorable period for several years, it is required to administer insulin in low doses (1-3 IU per day). There are 4 main types of insulin: ultrashort, short, medium and extended. Ultrashort is considered the fastest.
Insulin therapy is prescribed on an individual basis. The self-monitoring records of the diabetic are taken into account. The doctor studies how blood glucose changes throughout 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, 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 connected to a thin long tube. The needle is inserted under the skin, most often in the abdomen, and remains 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 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 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 for diabetics. The substance is taken daily in small doses. It is believed to reduce the risk of a heart attack.
It has been proven that both type 1 and type 2 diabetes simultaneously increase sugar and bad cholesterol. Therefore, the patient is shown taking statins. However, these medicines cause side 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 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 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, 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 lower 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 level of glucose in the blood 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 glucose levels. The second - supplies 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 off. The duration of therapy is 1 month.
- Healer Recipe. Required ingredients: 100 g lemon zest, 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. Put it 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 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 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 tbsp. l. dried and crushed leaves. Fill them with 500 ml of boiled water. Then boil the mixture for 15 minutes over low heat. Let it cool down and infuse for 40 minutes. After that, strain and take 0. 5 tbsp. 3 times a day.
- Cinnamon. Pour cinnamon powder 1 tbsp. boiling water. Let it brew 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 no more than 7 days.
- Burdock juice. The plant effectively lowers blood glucose levels. Dig up the root of young burdock. Wash thoroughly and grind the raw materials in a blender. Wrap the gruel in several layers of gauze and squeeze out the juice. Take the drug 3 times a day, 15 ml. Pre-dilute it 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 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 hearty and tasty, but do not 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 their blood sugar levels 3 times in a row. Differences in the results should not be more than 5-10%. Also, a blood test for sugar can be carried out in the laboratory, 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 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.
Do not be lazy to control the disease under stress, on business trips and other non-standard life situations. Keep a self-control diary. Mark the date, time, blood sugar levels, what you ate, what physical activity was, 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 sugar-lowering drugs. A low-carbohydrate 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.