Dr Satnam Singh Chhabra
A healthy life isn’t a distant dream for those suffering from diabetes or pre-diabetes. Patients easily cut health risks by taking insulin and keeping glucose levels low. However, clinically, there still are a multiple risks attached. Among them, heart disease and stroke figure prominently. However, a little care is all it takes for blissful living.
Watch sugar levels
Controlling blood sugar level and blood pressure are key to health living. Clinically defined, a stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain comes toa sudden halt. It usually results in speech or vision impairment and can result in paralysis in severe cases.Strokes are also caused by blood clots that form inside the body due to fatty acids that can further narrow or block the blood vessel in the brain or the neck. Diabetics are at an increased risk for strokes as blockingof blood vessels is a direct result of diabetes. A stroke, in turn, is also a result of a bleeding blood vessel in the brain. A break in the blood vessel may also occur as a result of high BP— a condition called aneurysm.
Diabetics are also more prone to suffering a stroke at an early age. Likewise, after menopause, women have higher chances of suffering from a stroke. But in case of diabetics, women are more exposed to the risk of stroke as diabetes reduces the protective effects of being a woman in reproductive years. One high risk factor for those suffering from a heart disease and stroke in diabetes is having a family history of heart disease. If one or more members of your family have suffered a stroke at an early age (before age 55 for men or 65for women), you may be at an increased risk.
Strain of hypertension
Hypertension disturbs the normal functioning of the heart. The heart must work faster to pump more blood required by the other organs. This conditioncan, in turn, lead to straining of the heart, damage to the blood vessels and increased risk of stroke. Smoking can prove hazardous for people with diabetes.
Taking prompt treatment within the first 3 hours after you experience the initial stroke symptoms is essential. Doctors prescribe clot-buster drug called tPA for ischemic stroke. This drug treatment helps in dissolving a clog in an artery. However, there is a serious limitation for people who have had a major surgery in the last 2 weeks for taking this drug.
Health at home
Following a heart-friendly diet is something anyone can do. Make an attempt to control your bad cholesterol with a high intake of fibre-richfoods. Many of our daily foods are a rich source of fibre. Oats, whole grain breads, whole grain flours and cereals, peas, fruits and vegetables will increase your routine dose of fibre.
Gradually, increase the amount of fibre. Saturated fats are a strict no-no. They raise your cholesterol level. Saturated fats are most commonly found in meats, butter, fatty dairy products, food cooked in coconut or palm oil. Consult a dieticianto monitor your daily intake of saturated fat. Also, don’t binge on fast food as it is high in saturated and trans fats. It is also advised to restrict your appetite of cookies, snacks, fried foods, baked goods and popcorns as they too increase cholesterol. If you are a chain smoker, consult a doctor to help you quit smoking. Stay fit, healthy and hearty. Exercise regularly to pump in more blood. The ideal LDL levelis less than 100 mg/dl. Also, limit the amount of alcohol — one drink per day for women and two drinks a day for men. Monitor your blood pressure continuously and take the doctor’s advice to keep it undercontrol it if it’s high.
Taking preventive medicines as per your doctors’ prescription is permissible. A daily low dose of aspirin has been advised by experts. Diabetics can benefit from low doses of aspirin (81 mg - 325mg a day) tomaintain a stable heart condition. However, take aspirin strictly on the recommendation of your doctor as it is not safe for everyone.
In case of transient ischemic attacks or mini stroke, be sure to avail prompt treatment. This form of stroke is a strong sign of preventing a major stroke later. Symptoms of a mini stroke include experiencing sudden weakness, loss of balance, numbness, confusion, blindness in one or both eyes, difficulty in speaking or a severe headache. Early treatment will help avoid a big disaster in future.
When to see a doctor?
If you have diabetes, you need to consult your doctor regularly to monitor your diet and other aspects of lifestyle. Insulin and others are pre-medications for a diabetic and are important to control your blood sugar levels. However, their effectiveness hugely depends on the timing and size of the dose. A regular medical check-up is recommended to avoid any abnormality.
In diabetic women, menstruation cycle affects blood sugar levels. One week before and during menstruation may result in a fluctuation. Likewise, diabetes management can get very complex some years before a woman hits the stage of menopause. Diabetics may suffer from high BPand any extra pressure may lead to a drastic rise in the level of blood sugar. It also becomes difficult to follow your diabetes management routine if you are suffering from stress. But dealing with it, as we said, is easy. Just watch your health.
A healthy life isn’t a distant dream for those suffering from diabetes or pre-diabetes. Patients easily cut health risks by taking insulin and keeping glucose levels low. However, clinically, there still are a multiple risks attached. Among them, heart disease and stroke figure prominently. However, a little care is all it takes for blissful living.
Watch sugar levels
Controlling blood sugar level and blood pressure are key to health living. Clinically defined, a stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain comes toa sudden halt. It usually results in speech or vision impairment and can result in paralysis in severe cases.Strokes are also caused by blood clots that form inside the body due to fatty acids that can further narrow or block the blood vessel in the brain or the neck. Diabetics are at an increased risk for strokes as blockingof blood vessels is a direct result of diabetes. A stroke, in turn, is also a result of a bleeding blood vessel in the brain. A break in the blood vessel may also occur as a result of high BP— a condition called aneurysm.
Diabetics are also more prone to suffering a stroke at an early age. Likewise, after menopause, women have higher chances of suffering from a stroke. But in case of diabetics, women are more exposed to the risk of stroke as diabetes reduces the protective effects of being a woman in reproductive years. One high risk factor for those suffering from a heart disease and stroke in diabetes is having a family history of heart disease. If one or more members of your family have suffered a stroke at an early age (before age 55 for men or 65for women), you may be at an increased risk.
Strain of hypertension
Hypertension disturbs the normal functioning of the heart. The heart must work faster to pump more blood required by the other organs. This conditioncan, in turn, lead to straining of the heart, damage to the blood vessels and increased risk of stroke. Smoking can prove hazardous for people with diabetes.
Taking prompt treatment within the first 3 hours after you experience the initial stroke symptoms is essential. Doctors prescribe clot-buster drug called tPA for ischemic stroke. This drug treatment helps in dissolving a clog in an artery. However, there is a serious limitation for people who have had a major surgery in the last 2 weeks for taking this drug.
Health at home
Following a heart-friendly diet is something anyone can do. Make an attempt to control your bad cholesterol with a high intake of fibre-richfoods. Many of our daily foods are a rich source of fibre. Oats, whole grain breads, whole grain flours and cereals, peas, fruits and vegetables will increase your routine dose of fibre.
Gradually, increase the amount of fibre. Saturated fats are a strict no-no. They raise your cholesterol level. Saturated fats are most commonly found in meats, butter, fatty dairy products, food cooked in coconut or palm oil. Consult a dieticianto monitor your daily intake of saturated fat. Also, don’t binge on fast food as it is high in saturated and trans fats. It is also advised to restrict your appetite of cookies, snacks, fried foods, baked goods and popcorns as they too increase cholesterol. If you are a chain smoker, consult a doctor to help you quit smoking. Stay fit, healthy and hearty. Exercise regularly to pump in more blood. The ideal LDL levelis less than 100 mg/dl. Also, limit the amount of alcohol — one drink per day for women and two drinks a day for men. Monitor your blood pressure continuously and take the doctor’s advice to keep it undercontrol it if it’s high.
Taking preventive medicines as per your doctors’ prescription is permissible. A daily low dose of aspirin has been advised by experts. Diabetics can benefit from low doses of aspirin (81 mg - 325mg a day) tomaintain a stable heart condition. However, take aspirin strictly on the recommendation of your doctor as it is not safe for everyone.
In case of transient ischemic attacks or mini stroke, be sure to avail prompt treatment. This form of stroke is a strong sign of preventing a major stroke later. Symptoms of a mini stroke include experiencing sudden weakness, loss of balance, numbness, confusion, blindness in one or both eyes, difficulty in speaking or a severe headache. Early treatment will help avoid a big disaster in future.
When to see a doctor?
If you have diabetes, you need to consult your doctor regularly to monitor your diet and other aspects of lifestyle. Insulin and others are pre-medications for a diabetic and are important to control your blood sugar levels. However, their effectiveness hugely depends on the timing and size of the dose. A regular medical check-up is recommended to avoid any abnormality.
In diabetic women, menstruation cycle affects blood sugar levels. One week before and during menstruation may result in a fluctuation. Likewise, diabetes management can get very complex some years before a woman hits the stage of menopause. Diabetics may suffer from high BPand any extra pressure may lead to a drastic rise in the level of blood sugar. It also becomes difficult to follow your diabetes management routine if you are suffering from stress. But dealing with it, as we said, is easy. Just watch your health.