Advice for Diabetes Patients

Unhealthy eating habits, from sedentary lifestyle to many other mistakes we make in our daily lives, are causing diabetes. Noting that the incidence of diabetes in our country has doubled in the last 10 years and there are 7 million diabetic patients, Dr. Funda Öztürk, Endocrinologist at Acıbadem Kozyatağı Hospital, stated: "If diabetes is not treated properly, it can lead to serious problems such as cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, and diabetic foot ulcers. The course of the disease can be kept under control through healthy eating, lifestyle changes, regular exercise, and regular medical check-ups; damage to other organs can be prevented." Endocrinologist Dr. Funda Öztürk explained 10 mistakes that can disrupt blood sugar control.

Sedentary Lifestyle

Exercise is the most important factor in blood sugar and weight control. Diabetic patients should choose exercise appropriate to their age and additional health conditions, and ensure they exercise regularly at least 3 days per week. For most patients, walking is the safest form of exercise. Since exercising on an empty stomach can lead to low blood sugar; exercise should begin 1 hour after a main meal or 30 minutes after a light meal.

Incorrect Medication Use

Herbal foods or various remedies thought to provide blood sugar control should absolutely be avoided as they can be very harmful. Mixtures sold on the market or prepared by the patient from herbal shops can cause serious side effects. For example, they can damage the liver, cause bleeding tendency, or lead to changes in the dosage of medication or insulin still in use and unexpected side effects.

Infrequent Doctor Visits

Even if diabetic patients have no complaints, it is very important that they have check-ups at intervals recommended by their doctors. If there are no additional problems, check-ups should be done every 4-6 months. Patients whose sugar control has deteriorated need more frequent check-ups.

Stopping or Changing Treatment

Suddenly stopping medications, increasing or decreasing doses without doctor's advice can cause blood sugar to become very high or, conversely, very low. If blood sugar control deteriorates, the doctor monitoring the disease should be consulted.

Skipping Meals

Endocrinologist Dr. Funda Öztürk states: "The medication or insulin given to regulate blood sugar has time intervals when its effects on blood are at their highest. If a patient skips a meal or eats less than required after using medication or insulin, they will experience low blood sugar. Experiencing frequent low blood sugar seriously disrupts diabetes control. Diabetic patients must pay close attention to their meal times and the amount of food they consume."

Using Medication Prescribed for Someone Else

Everyone's constitution, weight, required medication dosage, and disease severity differ from one another. A medication that works well for one patient may not work for another. For this reason, trying medication without doctor's advice is quite risky, so always consult your doctor.

Consuming High-Calorie Food During Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia) Episodes

In a patient diagnosed with diabetes, blood sugar below 70 mg/dl is considered hypoglycemia.

Neglecting Foot Care

Diabetic patients need to understand proper foot care. Appropriate footwear should be selected to prevent foot ulcers from forming. Regularly checking feet daily for wounds, redness, or discharge will prevent ulcers from developing, so this should be observed. To protect the feet: do not walk barefoot, choose appropriate footwear, avoid hot water and heat sources (stoves, grills, very hot spring waters). When a wound is noticed, it is important to consult a doctor without delay before the wound deepens.

Neglecting Eye Check-ups

Cataracts and vision problems are common in diabetic patients. Especially when blood sugar is high, blurred vision and serious decreases in visual acuity can occur. Unless their doctors recommend otherwise, diabetic patients should have eye examinations once a year.

Not Having Blood Sugar Measurement Devices Checked

Endocrinologist Dr. Funda Öztürk states: "Blood sugar measurement devices used at home should be checked from time to time. The expiration dates of blood sugar measurement strips should be checked. These checks are important for obtaining accurate results in measurements performed at home."