Men’s Health Awareness week 2018 is a time to raise awareness to health issues that predominantly affect men. It is also about educating men about health issues they may have, could develop, and to learn how to change habits.
This year, the focus will be Diabetes awareness in men. Indeed, this condition is now becoming more predominant in men that women and complications seems to develop faster in male bodies than in females.
As such, here are a few tips to help raise your diabetes awareness, and how to fight against this increasingly common disease.
Your diabetes awareness
Diabetes manifests itself by a raised sugar level in someone’s blood. Normally, a hormone called insulin regulates our blood sugar. Usually this hormone is produced when our blood sugar rises over a certain threshold (usually during or right after a meal) and this enables the excess sugar to be transformed and stored. But with diabetes the insulin isn’t working because it’s either lacking (Type 1) or the body’s cells don’t react to it (Type 2) so your sugar levels stay high.
Type 1 diabetes touches more young people compare to type 2 diabetes that concerns more adults. For example in the UK, 90% of all adults with diabetes have type 2.
What are the consequences of diabetes?
Sugar and more specifically glucose is an amazing source of energy for your body’s cells, especially your brain! Your nervous
system needs constant sugar supply as our neurones can’t stay alive very long without it. So a well-regulated blood sugar is essential. You may think that if you have a bit more than normal is better but it’s really not.
Here are some symptoms of hyperglycaemia (High blood sugar):
- Increased thirst and dry mouth
- Needing to urinate frequently
- Tiredness
- Blurred vision
- Unintentional weight loss
- Recurrent infections
- Cuts or wounds slower to heal
Diabetes can, if not treated properly lead to:
- Heart condition or stroke
- Pain and loss of feeling (nerve damage)
- Peripheral neuropathies
- Foot problems such as sores, infections and ulcers
- Vision loss and blindness
- Kidney problems
How to prevent Type 2 diabetes?
Although diabetes type 1 is more linked to your genetics or autoimmune damage, diabetes type 2 is brought on by lifestyle factors, which we can often act on.
- Unbalanced diet: this is by far the most important part that needs to change. Excess of sugar and fat is the major trigger for type 2 diabetes. To start with, try to gradually reduce carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, potatoes and bread. You can replace them by adding more steamed vegetables for example. Avoid using too much fat as well when you cook. Olive oil is really good as it contains healthy fats and antioxidants, and it has shown to have anti-inflammatories properties.
- Lack of physical activity: if you absorb calories faster than your body can burn them, then there is an issue. If you haven’t exercised in a long time, you can start by doing a regular long walk. If you intent to start running, going to the gym, etc. make sure to get a full health check up with your Reading Osteopath or Chiropractor to make sure that your body can handle it.
- Lack of sleep: it is essential as we spent almost a third of our life sleeping. Going to sleep at regular hours each day helps balancing your sleep pattern. You will also feel more energetic during the day.
- Excess of stress: long lasting stress raises blood pressure and increase muscle tension. Finding a good hobby can help you evade your normal stressful routine. You need to make time for yourself because nobody will do it for you.
- Smoking: smoking and high blood sugar levels both damage the walls of our blood vessels.
- Alcohol: alcohol even in small quantities can raise your blood sugar level really quickly so a moderate consumption is essential.
Just like any change, lifestyle changes are very difficult to maintain over time. So do it one by one. Once one is part of your routine, then add another one, etc. Nobody can do these changes for you so you need to take your health into your own hands.
Focus on K-Laser therapy for Diabetes
Laser therapy is state-of-the-art technology that uses a laser beam to stimulate healing.
There has been lots of research done on patients suffering from diabetes and it has proven to be extremely effective on cuts, wounds or diabetic ulcers that won’t heal. There has also been very good research results on the use of laser therapy being very helpful for peripheral neuropathy associated with Type 2 diabetes. Not all laser therapy machines are the same. At Reflex Spinal health we have a state-of-the-art Class 4 K-Laser. This is the only unit of its kind in all of Berkshire and Oxfordshire.
Just like skin exposure to sun light stimulates our skin cells to produce vitamin D, laser therapy can stimulate all sorts of cells even deep ones and increase oxygenation, and blood perfusion, facilitating healing.
We hope this article has improved your diabetes awareness. If you want to learn more about how K-Laser Therapy can help you, we invite you to visit our website : https://www.reflexspinalhealth.com/services/k-laser-therapy/ . If you have any further questions please phone and ask to speak to one of the clinical team on 0118 946 2100.
