Globally, the prevalence of cases is projected to increase to 700 million by 2045. Currently, 1 in 5 people over 65 are diabetic patients, more than 1.1 million children and adolescents are type 1 diabetic patients and more than 20 million births are affected by diabetes during pregnancy.
The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that a healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight, and avoiding tobacco consumption are habits that prevent type 2 diabetes or delay its appearance. Regular examinations are also recommended to detect and treat your complications on time.
Moving to the Covid-19
Given the Covid-19 pandemic and home confinement, it is vital that diabetic patients practice healthy habits that allow them to keep their condition under control. They must maintain an adequate diet and avoid possible complications derived from consuming certain foods or overeating. “The eating plan depends on the age, gender, nutritional status, physical activity, physiological and pathological states of the patient. Carbohydrates are essential in glycemic control, as they represent up to 50% of the total recommended caloric intake in 24 hours “explains Dr. Giancarlo Fornieri, doctor educator in diabetes.
Eating unhealthy foods and inactive lifestyles with sedentary behavior are factors that influence the development of type 2 diabetes, a condition that 90% of diabetic patients suffer in the world. According to the 2019 Diabetes Atlas, published by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), 463 million people have the disease.
Given the Covid-19 and the restriction of movement, it is recommended to follow an exercise routine that can be performed at home three to five days a week, for a minimum of 30 to 45 minutes.
Healthy nutrition
“Healthy nutrition is an essential component to prevent and control diabetes, people must consume a varied and balanced diet from an early age, when eating habits and physical activity are established, this allows programming the regulation of energy balance to maintain weight adequate in the long term ”, warns the specialist.
According to the WHO, eating a healthy diet throughout life helps prevent malnutrition in all its forms, as well as different non-communicable diseases and disorders. This habit involves achieving a caloric balance and a healthy weight.
Self control
Diabetic patients have blood sugar levels that rise above the recommended, even exceeding 126 milligrams deciliter (mg / dl), when the usual average should range between 70 and 100 mg / dl fasting.
For self-monitoring, diabetic patients have the possibility of having devices -such as the Accu-Chek glucometer- that instantly measure the blood sugar level, it is easy to use and very comfortable to transport.
Self-monitoring is the only way to verify that the levels are adequate. It is a quick and simple procedure, so that diabetic patients obtain the sugar level in just 4 or 5 seconds.
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