Diabetes affects about 537 million adults worldwide and is one of the leading causes of death and disability. Due to the burden of diabetes, there are many efforts being constantly made to manage this disease.
Managing Diabetes
Disease management programs are a healthcare approach which implements the integration of different interventions that are suited to the person’s medical background. This helps in keeping the disease under control by making sure that all practices are coordinated and used regularly to reduce the effects of the disease. In turn, this leads to improved quality of life, reduced complications, and lower healthcare costs.
In diabetes, the body’s ability to produce or process insulin is impaired. Insulin is the hormone responsible for converting food into energy and maintaining blood sugar or glucose levels. Detecting diabetes even as early as prediabetes, controlling it, and avoiding the complications are the main goals of disease management in diabetics.
Diabetes Weight Management
An approach in diabetic management is a diabetes weight management program which focuses on achieving and maintaining a healthy weight because weight is an important factor in diabetes. This type of program includes customized nutrition plans, simplified food tracking, blood sugar monitoring, and community support to help people living with diabetes.
1. Simplified Approach
While diabetes can be complex, the focus of diabetic weight management on managing weight is simple: get and keep a target weight. But this focus is important because of the link between obesity and diabetes. Obesity is a risk factor for diabetes and also increases risk for other conditions. Diabetics who are overweight or obese can have difficulty controlling blood glucose, and uncontrolled blood glucose can lead to complications. Additionally, diabetic patients are at risk for weight fluctuations. So, a customized approach to weight management is an important aspect of living with diabetes.
2. Preventing complications
Uncontrolled blood sugar can lead to complications such as high blood pressure, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Proper nutrition and maintaining a healthy weight to stabilize blood glucose go hand in hand with avoiding complications. With diabetes weight management strategies, education, support, and monitoring are provided to make it easier to maintain stability and avoid complications.
4. Customized meal plans
Diet affects blood sugar levels and not eating right can lead to problems. Since two people are completely alike in diabetes management, diet also needs to be customized. With diabetes weight management plans, customized meal plans allow for specific changes based on each person’s needs. Not only does this apply to achieve a goal weight, but also adjusts based on blood glucose levels. Foods that can be consumed are monitored in simple ways to help make it easier to manage and stick to a healthy diabetic diet.
4. Providing Support
When living with diabetes, daily life can be difficult. Support from professionals is needed to help keep the person healthy, but connection with people on the same journey can provide insight and encouragement. Diabetic weight management programs include community resources which can provide support and empowerment. This can lead to a more positive outlook and determination to reach health goals.
5. Long-term habits
Having a healthy diet is not the only factor in managing diabetes and weight. Recommended exercises for diabetes such as walking, yoga, and cycling have been shown to have a great impact on blood sugar levels. However, these things should not just be short-term. Diabetes is lifelong, and healthy long-term habits must be developed. Fad diets and weight loss plans are difficult to maintain. In order to be able to keep up with a healthy lifestyle, the approach should be tailored to each person and easy to do every day, which is the case with diabetes weight management programs.