Managing Diabetes Symptoms is Possible with the Right Tools

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More than 37 million Americans have diabetes, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while another 96 million have prediabetes (which can lead to type 2 diabetes if left untreated).¹

Fortunately, with the help of early intervention tools and healthy lifestyle changes, those diagnosed can carry out relatively normal lives and help prevent serious complications, such as vision loss, nerve damage, and painful foot and heel issues from occurring.²

Creating a Self-Care Plan

Under the supervision of your physician, you can create a self-care plan to help better manage your diabetes and conditions related to diabetes.

1. Measurement: Regularly monitoring blood sugar to ensure levels are within the target range is an important part of managing your diabetes.³
2. Clinical assessment tools for early detection: Early detection can help prevent or reduce the incidence of ulcers before they become serious. AliMed’s Disposable Monofilaments are one of the most effective testing tools for early detection of sensory loss or neuropathy in diabetic patients and are disposable for single-patient use and infection control. The Diabetic Neuropathy Device™ is a handheld digital diagnostic tool that allows medical professionals to detect and measure peripheral neuropathy and identify the risks for complications in a three-minute comprehensive foot exam. Baseline® Tuning Forks enable medical professionals to evaluate vibratory sensation and hearing to assess any loss in sensation or hearing.
3. Exercise and weight management: Knowing what type of food and what combinations of foods you can eat, combined with physical activity, is another important part of properly managing your diabetes. Understanding how diet and exercise affect your blood sugar is key to maintaining your levels.⁴
4. Proper wound care: Diabetic foot ulcers or infections can heal faster when properly treated. Choose wound care dressings that promote moisture, absorbency, and odor and/or infection control.⁵ Comfort Release™ Dressings are designed to create and maintain an optimal moist environment and include options that are highly breathable, super absorbent for heavy exuding wounds, and have antibacterial properties for managing infection. Offloading wounds is also a critical part of the healing process to help relieve painful pressure where wounds are present. AliMed’s Open Heel and Open Forefoot Orthoses transfer weight off the affected area for effective pressure relief where it’s needed.
5. Heel protection and foot care: Foot issues, including sores that don’t heal or ulcers, are a common complication of diabetic neuropathy.⁶ To help prevent sores from developing, keep feet clean and dry and wear cushioned shoes that fit well. Specialty socks and shoe inserts help reduce friction, abrasion, and shear forces while helping to prevent callus formation and improve circulation.
6. Eye care: Vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy is sometimes irreversible. However, early detection and treatment can reduce the risk of blindness by 95%. People with diabetes or those at risk of developing the disease should get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Patients with diabetic retinopathy may need eye exams more frequently.⁷

The most important step a diabetic patient can take is to visit your doctor on a regular basis. Early diagnosis and treatment of any health condition provides the best chance for controlling and preventing future complications.

RESOURCES

1. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/quick-facts.html
2. https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/blood-sugar-complications#1
3. http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/symptoms
4. http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/symptoms
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4127589/
6. https://www.apma.org/Patients/FootHealth.cfm?ItemNumber=981
7. https://nei.nih.gov/health/diabetic/retinopathy