EP-02 Diabetes, Nutrition, and Treatment

Diabetes is a topic that is being discussed more and more these days. It is also one of the top five most common diseases endangering Thai health. It can harm people of all ages and genders, especially in the elderly, who are frequently diagnosed with diabetes as a co-morbidity which has an impact on one's lifestyle and quality of life.

The body is unable to regulate blood sugar levels, diabetes develops. Diabetic patients are being encouraged to take better care of themselves. It does not matter if it's a diet or a workout along with strictly adhering to the doctor's prescriptions.

Diabetes is caused by a malfunction in the body that insulin hormone decreases. As a result, the body is unable to consume sugar efficiently. As a result, blood sugar levels are abnormally high. As in the long run, it may cause damage to major blood vessels. The patients will be resulted in the serious complications.

- Diabetes and high blood cholesterol affect two out of every three diabetics. Also, high blood pressure.
- Diabetics are two to four times as likely as healthy people to develop heart disease.
- Heart disease, which is the leading cause of death, affects three out of four diabetic patients.

Those with diabetes and high blood pressure but no diabetes have twice the risk of heart disease. It also raises the risk of complications involving the eyes, kidneys, and brain.

Diabetes mellitus, blood sugar, fat, and blood pressure are all unaffected.

For the treatment of high blood lipids in diabetics, the most important factor is "diet," in which the patient must keep his or her blood sugar levels under control and not fall too low or too high. As a result, it is critical to select foods that are prone to side effects. A simple way to control food is to use the methods listed below.

• Moderately consume food to maintain a healthy body weight
  
•  The five food groups that should be consumed are flour, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. Trans fats should be avoided or limited. Also, cholesterol-raising foods are found in animal fats, palm oil, coconut oil, and coconut milk are high in trans fats, while meats, offal, egg yolks, milk, and butter are high in cholesterol.
  

What impact does Hypoglycemia have on diabetics' quality of life?

Hypoglycemia has an impact on the lives of diabetics in a variety of ways, both physically and mentally. It has an impact on work, sleep, and day-to-day activities.

According to data from the International Diabetes Federation, the number of people with diabetes worldwide is rising every year. Hypoglycemia in the bloodstream is the most common problem that occurs along with the treatment. Hand tremors, weakness, irritability, cold sweating, palpitations, rapid and irregular heartbeat, or headache, numbness, dizziness, or possibly severe loss of consciousness are the most common symptoms. Patients will experience a headache, excessive sweating, nightmares, and waking up with their clothes wet with sweat if it occurs while sleeping.

Feel restless, unable to sleep, and your heart is pounding, which can cause the patients to pass out.
To avoid the possibility of this condition, some patients are prescribed a lower dose of hypoglycemic medication. As a result, the results of blood sugar treatment do not meet the goal of improving blood sugar levels, which may lead to long-term complications.

Hypoglycemia has four effects on diabetic patients' quality of life: decreased sleep quality, impact on interactions with others, and impact on work. And it has an impact on the patient's overall health. Not only the patient with hypoglycemia symptoms must take care of themselves, their families, and their caregivers are crucial in lowering the risk of hypoglycemia in order to get the most out of your treatment.

The false assumptions on diabetic diet

1. Rice and flour should be avoided by diabetics. It causes diabetes and high blood sugar levels.

To begin, we must understand that rice and flour foods are a food group that provides nutrients, specifically carbohydrates, which are the body's primary source of energy.

When we eat rice and flour-based foods, we are consuming carbohydrates. Rice-starch must be converted to glucose by the body. And then, it absorbed into the blood and delivered to the liver, and makes a change in order to generate energy for one's body.

As a result if a diabetic patient does not consume any rice or flour-based foods. Low blood sugar is the first thing to strike your body.

Carbohydrates do not provide enough energy to the body. As a result, there is a loss of strength and exhaustion.

However, if people with diabetes consume too much rice and flour-based foods, it will cause a high in blood sugar. As a result, too much energy can lead to obesity.

This will lead to other complications such as high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc.

The following are some tips for diabetics when choosing rice and flour foods.

• Select unrefined rice and flour based-food with a little post-processing may be necessary. Concentrating on fiber-rich varieties will be included. Brown rice and lightly refined grains, for example, can help to slow down the conversion of starch to sugar.
• Select a rice and flour food with a low glycemic.
• Rice and flour consumption should be limited. To be in the proper amount and sufficient to meet the body's needs.
• Sugary rice and starchy foods like sugar, nectar, and honey, as well as sugary foods and beverages like sodas, should be avoided.
  

2. Sugar from fruit is safe for diabetics

Sugar obtained from fruit, are made up of a sugar called. "Fructose sugar". It is a type of sugar that is high in fructose (Fructose) frequently found in nature which is different from conventional sugar. Fructose sugar is 1.3 times sweeter than sugar and absorbs at a slower rate than sugar.

However, eating both kinds of sugar can cause the blood sugar levels and increase in blood fats known as known as "triglycerides." Even though, the organic sugar is absorbed slower than conventional sugar, both kinds of sugar are dangerous for health if not consuming moderately.

Therefore, the belief that diabetics can eat fruit as needed because it is a kind of fructose sugar, is definitely false information.

Fruit-eating advice to avoid raising blood sugar levels, choose fruit with a low glycemic and high fiber content, and limit fruit consumption to three servings per day or no more than one portion per serving for people with diabetes. Avoid eating a lot of fruit at once and drinking fruit juice is preferable to eating fresh fruit.

When a patient is diagnosed with diabetes, the disease is incurable. It can lead to several other issues if not treated properly. As a result, the diabetic patient, family, and the caregiver must all pay attention to their health. Controlling blood sugar, blood pressure, blood fat, and body weight are all important. To meet the appropriate criteria, the disease's symptoms should not worsen. This is for the patient's quality of life and long-term survival.

Ladprao 101 Nursing Home, elderly Care Center, we understand that each elderly person has different limitations or health issues. We have nutritionists who handle elderly food, such as diabetic food, which will be served for the senior clients. Every step, from preparation to raw material procurement, is under our supervision and control. Until the end of the cooking process, to ensure that each dish has not only a pleasant flavor but also a complete nutritional value.

At Ladprao 101 Nursing Home, you can rely on us when it comes to the elderly’s all problems.

Reference :

-            https://www.foryoursweetheart.org/บทความ/การดูแลผู้ป่วย/น้ำตาลต่ำในผู้เป็นเบาหวาน/TH

-            https://www.dailynews.co.th/article/675029

-            https://www.bangkokpattayahospital.com/