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People with uncontrolled sugar levels or foot ulcers need medical footwear and diabetic socks Diabetes patients develop swelling,flattened arch sometimes.So,the shoe size varies accordingly Better to use cotton,cushiony socks and well fitting shoes HOW TO SELECT THE FIT SHOE? Always shop in the afternoon The toe area of the shoe should be spacious.Narrow toe areas leads to foot wounds and blood circulation decreases Hard rubber sole protects the feet from sharp objects Insoles made from Micro Cellular Polymer are used for cushioning effect The shoe inner area should be wide to face the swelling problems or to insert insoles Adjustable straps are required to adjust during swelling Select shoes with low arch incase of flat foot The shoe should be completly covered to avoid  from hard objects Wear low heel shoes

What is diabetic neuropathy? Nerve damage a long term complication in diabetes is called neuropathy Symptoms:numbness or tingling in toes initially and gradually passes to ankle & leg No sensation or too sensitive feet Prevention of diabetic foot problems is very important although treatment has improved HOW TO PREVENT FOOT PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY OCCUR? More care for feet is important than face Examine the foot everyday by using a hand mirror.Check toes,sides carefully Wash the feet with mild soap or soak the feet in refreshing foot soak.Dry them completely and moisture them Cut the nails with a clipper straightly and file smoothly Don't walk with bare feet.Wear shoes at beach.Cover with socks in cold season Always wear comfortable shoes.Use cotton or wool socks Quit smoking as it damages small blood vessels due to which circulation shows and leads to foot infections Keeping blood sugar levels under control by taking medicines regularly,exercising regularly,taking

Type 1 Diabetes : This type of diabetes begins in childhood and develops rapidly It is an autoimmune disease(i.e the body attacks and destroys insulin producing cells in the pancreas) Thus insulin is not produced which is a hormone necessary to convert food into energy. In Type 1 diabetes children may also develop rheumatoid arthritis,thyroid disorders,insufficient adrenal 5-10% of total diabetes population are type 1 diabetic The type 1 diabetes symptoms are polyurea,excessive thirst,bed wetting,excess hunger,fatigue,weight loss They should undergo HbA1C(gives  blood sugar value for last 60-90 days),cholesterol,vitamin d status,microalbumin test and eye examination These tests helps to precvent long term complications like nerve damage,kidney failure,heart diseases,blindness Type 1 diabetics are insulin dependants Educating about diabetes is more important like treatment Along with insulin injecting techniques they should learn self blood glucose monitoring also.It helps t

Exercise in Diabetes Exercise is must in diabetes if the body permits to do.It plays a vital role in controlling diabetes 30 minutes exercise per day helps: Proper utilization of insulin in diabetics taking insulin stress release lower blood sugar and blood pressure reduces bad cholesterol lose weight makes heart,bones,muscles strong keep joints flexible SIMPLE EXERCISES Walking - Simple to do and cost effective-requires a pair of shoe only Swimming-one can walk in water or move the feet in water though they don't know swimming.It is also a sort of exercise Gardening-watering,removing weeds,pulling flowers or plants is also a good exercise Playing-playing with kids or grand kids in the park,throwing a disk are also good exercise PRACTICE YOGA Yoga also controls diabetes.Asanas like Dhanurasana,shavasana,bhujangasana,paschimottanasana helps in proper functioning of pancreas and insulin Before doing any exercise stretching of muscles in the following manner helps t

Weight loss tips: Weight:How to access the correct weight i.e whether the weight is more or less than desired Calculate the body mass index(BMI) BMI=Weight/height in meter*2 Check height in meters Find out weight in kilograms Then calculate BMI If BMI<19   underweight    BMI is between 19&25   recommended weight range    BMI is between 25&30   overweight    BMI is more than 30 obese. Waist size:Waist size gives the storage of fat around belly.Apple shaped bellies indicates obesity. Healthy waist less than 40inches in men and less than 35inches in women One can monitor their BMI,body fat byusing body fat monitors analyzer scales like karadascan…..etc Overweight leads to many diseases like high blood pressure,stroke,diabetes,sleep apnea,cancer,osteoarthritis,stress. How to reduce the overweight: Our body needs energy for metabolic activities. If the energy is released more than required due to excess food intake it is stored in form of fats in the body which leads to we

GESTATIONAL DIABETES It is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy During pregnancy to meet babys needs mothers body should produce extra insulin.If it doesnot happen gestational diabetes develop It can be diagniosed by the presence of sugar in urine test during antenatal checkup and  blood glucose tests Women with high blood pressure,obese,insulin dependent parent or sibling,late mothers(giving birth at older age) may develop gestational diabetes Due to more sugar in the blood of mother the growth of baby increases which leads to difficulty in delivery There is possibility that these babies may develop diabetes in future Gestational diabetes can be treated by regular checkup with the doctor by controlling diet,by exercise,by monitoring blood glucose levels using glucometer regularly

In diabetes its not only important to take balanced diet but also regular exercise and stress less life style plays a vital role The following are some of the ways to control the stress: Healthy mind is the soul of healthy body To maintain healthy body awareness on healthy food is necessary Practise yoga and meditation.It refreshes the mind Walk for at least 15min a day Maintain hobbies like gardening,listening music,painting,cooking a new dish,dancing....etc. Avoid junk food,caffeine drinks,alcohol. Create time for your own.Spend sometime with your family/dear ones Share the problems with your dear ones Follow a schedule to prevent work backlog Good sleep is necessary

Managing the emergencies in Diabetes: In case of any emergency,query,clarification do not delay to contact your doctor The three emergencies of diabetes are hyperglycemia,hypoglycemia and keto-acidosis HYPERGLYCEMIA: In hyperglycemia blood sugar level dangerously rises high(above 250 mg/dl).It is seen more in type1 diabetes Reasons: Neglecting or skipping the medicines such as insulin.                  Infection.                  Eating high calorie food.                  High stress.                  Avoiding exercise..... Symptoms:Headache,blurred vision,excessive hunger,thirst,tiredness.In such cases its better to check blood sugar levels   immediately.Glucometer can be used for immediate checking. If sugar level is more than 250mg/dl contact your doctor immediately and drinking lots of water helps to lower the blood sugar level before reaching the doctor HYPOGLYCEMIA It is seen more in people with type 2 diabetes.This condion is charecterised with the blood sugar l

Diabetic Diet: DIET: To manage diabetes everyday diet plays a vital role. Awareness on type of food, its calorific value and maintenance of time intervals is necessary. VEGETABLES:(3-5 servings)-One serving can be 1cup of raw leafy greens/beans/carrots/sprouts or ¾ cup vegetable juice or ½ cup of chopped/cooked vegetables. FRUITS:(2-4 servings)-One serving can be 1 medium apple/banana/orange or 1slice of melon/3/4 cup of fruit juice or ½ cup of chopped fruits/berries. MILK:(2-3 servings)-One serving can be 1cup skimmed milk/1 cup buttermilk or one serving can be 1 cup non-fat yogurt/1cup fruit flavored yogurt. MEAT & OTHERS:(2-3 servings)-One serving can be 30g cooked fish or 30g cooked chicken or 30g cooked meat. PULSES(2-4 servings)-One serving can be 1 cup cooked thin, watery tur dal/moong dal/cowpeas/masoor dal or ½ cup cooked rajmah/channa/baked beans/lentils or 25g if uncooked. CEREALS AND CARBOHYDRATES:(6 or more servings)-One serving can be 1 chappati/idly/dalia or ½

Insulin : Insulin is a hormone secreted by beta cells of pancreas Insulin is a substance that controls the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood Insulin is always used in patients with Type1 Diabetes and may be required in Type2 or gestational diabetes Insulin can be taken through delivery devices like syringe and Insulin pens   Insulin Pens : They are most convenient and easiest way of insulin administration No need to use syringes and vials No need to mix and measure the insulin Accuracy in dosage Can be easily carry in purse or pocket There are two types of insulin pens:Disposable and permanent Disposable pens : They are premixed,prefilled and ready to use by just dialing the dosage Permanent Pens: These are reusable pens,Pen fills or cartridges (Insulin contents) are changeable after the completion of insulin They are easy,convenient and accurate even at extremely low dosage Needles are to be changed when ever there is  pain Storage of Insulin : Insulin is to