Important things diabetics need to know about maintaining heart health

Of the many health conditions that people live with, diabetes is considered to be one which requires most discipline in terms of food and lifestyle, else it can severely harm the body, mainly the heart.

In most cases, diabetes requires life-long treatment to keep the glucose level in the blood within the normal range. Sugar is the source of energy for our body cells, and it is stored in the liver as a form of glycogen. In diabetes, a human body becomes unable to produce enough insulin hormones; even if it can produce, it fails to utilise the hormone properly. Insulin allows our body to turn glucose into energy. If the body struggles in metabolising glucose, it can lead to high blood sugar levels.

Dr Sanjay Gogia, director, internal medicine at Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh, says that diabetes has some adverse consequences on health that include high cholesterol, increased chances of heart attack, and stroke.

“Data from the American Heart Association has shown 65 per cent of people with diabetes lose their lives due to some sort of heart disease or stroke. Diabetic patients have a risk of developing cardiovascular disease that is more than double that of the people who do not have diabetes. For diabetics, sugar can stay in their bloodstream and leak out of the liver into their blood, with subsequent damage to the arteries, causing them to become stiff and hard,” he explains.

So, what kind of lifestyle changes should diabetic people make?

The best way to prevent or lower the risk of heart diseases is to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle, the doctor says.

* Diabetes needs continuous monitoring and medical care. It is crucial to keep the blood sugar level under control.

* As diabetes often gives birth to hypertension, frequent screening is necessary to keep a track of the blood pressure level, control the blood pressure. People who suffer from diabetes need to maintain their blood pressure at 130/80 level.

* Cholesterol level must be kept under control, with the guidance of a specialist doctor.

* Losing some weight really helps to manage not only diabetes, but also cholesterol and hypertension.

* Taking out time for daily exercise is a must.

* After consulting a nutritionist, diabetics need to eat a heart-healthy diet such as the Mediterranean diet or DASH diet.

* Quit smoking.

* Stress should be managed on a daily basis.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

 

Magnesium levels have effect on Vitamin D

Magnesium levels may have an effect in metabolising Vitamin D, says a recent study.

Researchers found that Vitamin D can’t be metabolised without sufficient magnesium levels.

“People are taking Vitamin D supplements but don’t realise how it gets metabolised. Without magnesium, Vitamin D is not really useful or safe,” said a researcher.

Researchers have explained that the consumption of Vitamin D supplements can increase a person’s calcium and phosphate levels even if they remain Vitamin D deficient. People may suffer from vascular calcification if their magnesium levels aren’t high enough to prevent the complication.

Patients with the right amount of magnesium levels require less Vitamin D supplementation to achieve sufficient Vitamin D levels. Magnesium also reduces osteoporosis, which helps to mitigate the risk of bone fracture that can be attributed to low levels of Vitamin D.

Deficiency in either of these nutrients is reported to be associated with various disorders, including skeletal deformities, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic syndrome.

While the recommended daily allowance for magnesium is 420 mg for males and 320 mg for females, the standard diet in the United States contains only about 50 per cent of that amount. Almost half of the total population is estimated to be consuming a magnesium-deficient diet.

Researchers have stated that the magnesium consumption from natural foods has decreased in the past few decades, owing to industrialised agriculture and changes in dietary habits. Magnesium status is low in populations who consume processed foods that are high in refined grains, fat, phosphate, and sugar.

“By consuming an optimal amount of magnesium, one may be able to lower the risks of Vitamin D deficiency, and reduce the dependency on Vitamin D supplements,” he noted. Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body after calcium, potassium, and sodium.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                                             FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                                                             https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                       FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com