Diabetes mellitus is a disease that develops due to the immunity of the body's 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 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 properly treat 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 fat is of vegetable origin;
- limit foods with sugar: cakes and sweets, ice cream, jams, fizzy drinks, fruit juices;
- exclude from the menu fatty broths, muffins, red fish, sausages, hard cheeses, rice and semolina;
- eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals: nuts, vegetables, fruits.
Typically, the menu includes sub-calorie foods with a minimal carbohydrate content. However, it is impossible to do without it 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, 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.
One fifth of the food consumed by a diabetic should be protein. Proteins of plant and animal origin are involved in restoring the body. Along with this, animal proteins impair kidney function, so don't exceed the amount.
The diabetic diet also includes fat. They are found in meat, fish, egg products.
insulin therapy
Treatment for type 1 diabetes involves injecting insulin. Shortly after the start of therapy, the so-called honeymoon begins. During this time, blood sugar is kept within normal limits without regular injections. After a while it rises again. If the glucose level is not reduced with insulin, a state of coma and death occurs.
To prolong 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: ultrashort, short, medium and extended. Ultrashort is considered the fastest.
Insulin therapy is prescribed on an individual basis. The diabetic's self-monitoring records are taken into account. The doctor studies how blood sugar changes during the day, at what time the patient has breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Preparations containing insulin 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 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 stays there. The pump is worn 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
Drugs 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 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 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 heart attack.
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have been shown to increase sugar and bad cholesterol at the same time. Therefore, the patient is shown taking statins. However, these drugs cause side reactions: memory problems, increased fatigue, functional liver 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 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 and anaerobic activities every other day. Adults need at least 5 half-hour sessions per week. Children - every day for 1 hour of training.
Only start exercising after consulting your doctor. Make sure your heart can handle such loads. To do this, take an ECG. If complications in the legs, kidneys or vision have already developed, 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 their 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 the blood glucose level with a glucometer. Gradually you will understand how physical activity affects him.
Folk methods
Folk remedies are also used to treat diabetes. Popular recipes are given below.
- 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. 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 therapy is 1 month.
- Recipe from the healer. Ingredients needed: 100 g of lemon zest, 300 g of parsley root (leaves are fine too), 300 g of peeled garlic. Rinse the parsley roots well, peel the garlic and pass everything through a meat grinder. Mix 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 all be used to treat diabetes.
- oak acorns. The composition of oak fruits includes a valuable tannin substance. 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 powdered coffee 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.
- Decoction of walnut leaves. To make a drink, you need 1 tbsp. L. dry 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 leave to infuse for 40 minutes. Next, strain and take 0. 5 tbsp. 3 times a day.
- Cinnamon. Pour ground cinnamon 1 tbsp. boiling water. Let it brew for 30 minutes. When the mixture has cooled, add the honey (2 parts honey and 1 part cinnamon). Put 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 going to bed. The duration of the course of treatment does not exceed 7 days.
- Burdock juice. The plant effectively lowers blood glucose levels. Dig up the root of the young burdock. Thoroughly wash and grind the raw materials in a blender. Wrap the gruel 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 not to do
The first and fundamental rule: take responsibility for your treatment. Follow a low-carb diet carefully. After eating, try to keep the sugar no higher than 5. 5 mmol / l. If necessary, supplement the diet with low insulin doses.
Don't limit your calorie intake. Eat large and tasty, but don't overdo it. Stop eating with a slight feeling of hunger.
Don't skimp on your blood glucose test strips. Measure your sugar levels 2-3 times a day every day. Check the accuracy of your meter periodically. Check your blood sugar levels 3 times in a row. Differences in results should not exceed 5-10%. Also, in the laboratory you can do a blood test for sugar and then check the 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 serious mistake. Complications of diabetes also occur if the glucose level on an empty stomach in the morning or after a meal is 6. 0 mmol / L. Find out how to calculate dosages and how to safely inject insulin.
Do not be lazy to control illness under stress, on business trips and in other non-standard life situations. Keep a self-control diary. Record the date, time, blood sugar levels, what you ate, what physical activity 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 with this. 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 that requires regular high insulin doses.