Before offering any advise BAM! offers some hard facts about diabetes from three major medical websites. Diabetes is a serious disorder that can serious cause damage to your body and gravely affect your lifestyle in many ways. Yes, the goal here is to scare you a bit. Diabetes is a serious matter. Just ask anyone that has it.
If you do not have diabetes, read the article anyway. Learn about what can happen to you if you do not take care of yourself. If you do have diabetes, read on as a reminder and motivation to take care of yourself this holiday season.
Some Statistics From The World Health Organization:
- Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation.
- In 2016, an estimated 1.6 million deaths were directly caused by diabetes. Another 2.2 million deaths were attributable to high blood glucose in 2012.
- Almost half of all deaths attributable to high blood glucose occur before the age of 70 years. WHO estimates that diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in 2016.
- A healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use are ways to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
In 2018, 34.2 million Americans, or 10.5% of the population, had diabetes.
1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year.
In 2015, 88 million Americans age 18 and older had prediabetes.
The American Diabetes Association
Early Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes From The WebMD Website
- Hunger And Fatigue
- Peeing More Often And Being Thirstier.
- Dry Mouth And Itchy Skin
- Blurred Vision
When to Call Your Doctor
If you’re older than 45 or have other risks for diabetes, it’s important to get tested. When you spot the condition early, you can avoid nerve damage, heart trouble, and other complications.
As a general rule, call your doctor if you:
- Feel sick to your stomach, weak, and very thirsty
- Are peeing a lot
- Have a bad belly ache
- Are breathing more deeply and faster than normal
- Have sweet breath that smells like nail polish remover (This is a sign of very high ketones.)
If diagnosed early diabetes can be managed. As noted from the WebMD site, if you are over 45 or if you have any other risks for diabetes, get yourself to your doctor and get tested.
If you have diabetes, holiday parties and long distance travel pose an extra challenges with managing this disorder. With healthy lifestyle choices and advance planning, you can celebrate the winter holidays and manage your condition at the same time.
Eating Tips
1. If You Or Your Partner Cook Or Bake Slim Down The Recipes.
Experiment with putting less butter, sour cream, cheese, sugar and salt into your traditional dishes. Sprinkle on fresh herbs for flavor.
2. Control The Portions Of How Much You Eat.
Enjoy a taste of the foods you love. Limit your portion sizes and chew slowly so you’ll be just as satisfied with eating less.
3. Eat Healthy Snacks Between Meals.
Munch on nuts, cut vegetables, and whole grain cereals. It should be easier to resist the temptation of holiday rich foods on a full stomach.
4. Be Very, Very Selective About Sweets.
Plan ahead before you arrive and focus on which dessert would be a must for you. A single sliver of apple or cherry pie beats grazing around the whole dessert buffet. Best to make your indulgence with a baked fruit or sugar free candy.
5. Limit Or Completely Eliminate Alcohol Consumption.
Some cocktails pack a lot of sugar and calories and any alcohol can weaken your willpower. Most experts advise up to one drink a day for women and two for men. It is probably best to just sip water or tea instead.
Exercise Tips
1. Take A Walk.
When your schedule gets hectic, you can still squeeze in a walk. Check out the decorations on your neighbor’s houses after dinner or visit a park early in the morning. If you have a dog that you take for a walk, make him or her happy too and extend your usual walk time and go out longer.
The colder temperatures may not burn extra calories, but with the right mindset, a good walk in crisp weather can be good for your mindset.
2. If You Are Not Doing Any Already, Start A Home Workout Routine.
If there’s little time to get to the gym, or the gyms are simply closed now due to the pandemic, find activities you can do at home. Body weight exercises or some basic Yoga can be a great way to keep moving, burn some calories, get fit and have some fun.
Some bodyweight workouts can be done with the whole family.
If you already do have an exercise regimen, don’t stop over the holidays. Keep it up and get your exercise in, no matter what!
3. Heading Out With The Family? Make Those Outings More Active.
Take everybody out for an afternoon of ice skating, cross country skiing or just a long family walk. Need to run to the corner store for some more eggs or milk, get everyone together and walk there.
Travel Tips
1. Pack Extra Medication.
Fill your suitcase with twice as much medication as you expect that you may need. There could be heavy traffic and or other transit delays.
2. Bring Your Pertinent Information.
Stick a written note in your pocket or handbag with your medical insurance and doctor’s contact information. Ensure your syringes and insulin are in their original pharmacy packaging with their preprinted labels.
Wear a bracelet? Make sure that you have it and that you have emergency contact numbers in a place that is easy for someone else to find, if needed.
When you travel have a page or envelope clearly marked as Emergency Information
Information That Should Be Included On Your Emergency Information List:
- Your full name, your age and sex
- Your home address
- Phone numbers for a personal emergency contact, such as a friend or a family member who should also be aware of your medical details.
- Details of your health history that could be helpful to emergency medical responders, including all allergies and your immunization record
- A full listing of any chronic medical conditions that you may have
- Names, doses and schedules of any medications that you take
- A list of any medical equipment that you travel with.
- A Medical consent form (A DNR form, if you have one)
- Phone numbers for professional emergency contacts, such as your family doctor, and any other specialist doctors that are part of your healthcare team.
3. Don’t Wait For Something To Happen – Advise Others Of Your Condition.
Let at least one person know you have diabetes. Mention it to a travel companion or the flight attendant. Have a list of possible symptoms that they can watch for and steps that they can take to assist you, if needed.
4. Keep Your Insulin Cool.
Insulin overheats easily. Put it in an insulated bag with cooling gel packs.
5. Move Around.
Sitting for a long time can increase your risk of blood clots. On car rides, take breaks at least every couple of hours to walk around. Walk the aisle on a plane or rotate your ankles occasionally.
6. Eat Right.
Ask the airline for a diabetic meal or prepare your own food. Use an insulated bag to bring yogurt, baby carrots, and whole grain pitas.
7. Travelling By Air? Before You Travel Check International Regulations.
Prescription laws can vary country by country. Let your doctor know your destination if you have any concerns.
If you are flying, check ahead to see what the airline will allow you to bring with you on the plane. This applies to the meds and medical paraphernalia as well. Know what you can take with you on the plane and what needs to be checked with your luggage.
Know what the emergency phone numbers are in other countries. Most other countries do not use 911 as an all-encompassing emergency hotline number. Find out what they are. Know where the nearest hospitals are. Be ready. Be prepared.
Additional Tips
1. Check Your Blood Glucose More Frequently.
Any changes in your daily routine can affect your blood glucose level. Monitor your blood sugar more often during the winter holidays.
Learn more about Diabetes and Blood Sugar Testing From The Mayo Clinic:
2. Meeting With Your Family? It’s A Good Time To Gather Your Family Health History.
Like many conditions, family history plays a big part in diabetes. Use family gatherings to find out if your relatives have similar health issues as you do and use the time to support each other in getting the care that you may all need.
Sharing the knowledge can benefit everyone. Don’t hide medical conditions from your family.
3. Talk With Your Doctor.
It’s always important to talk with your doctor and health care team about your individual needs. They can advise you about modifying your diet and other ways to manage your health issues.
Conclusion
Diabetes is a serious disorder and is not something that can be properly dealt with from just a website – from only any website, for that matter. Sure, use the internet to do some research and learn more about the disorder, how it can affect you and steps you can take to avoid it or about the different things that can be done to manage it.
But you must seek out help and guidance from a medical professional. Diabetes is not something to be fooled around with and any symptoms should not be ignored. See your doctor and get checked. If you already have diabetes work with your doctor to best manage it. And follow the instructions that you doctor gives you.
Taking the steps that you need to take with guidance from your doctor, with effectively managing your diabetes you should be able to enjoy all the festivities of the winter holiday season without further compromising your health. After-all, keeping yourself in top condition is the best gift that you can give yourself and to your loved ones.
BAM! Be A Man. Do The Right Thing. Take Care Of Yourself And Your Family. Happy Holidays!
BAM! Be A Man. Do The Right Thing.
Be The DtRTy Guy!