Currently, high blood sugar has become a globally harmful disease, and its prevalence is increasing significantly every year. According to the global diabetes data released by the International Diabetes Federation, it is not difficult to see that China’s overall diabetes prevalence has reached 9.32%, with a total of 98 million people affected. China has become the global leader in the total number of diabetes patients, demonstrating the severity of the condition.
“A speck of dust in the era is a mountain on everyone’s head.” Over 90 million data points written on paper are just a few strokes, but behind them lie numerous diabetes companions and their painful treatment experiences. Diabetes is not just a “disease,” but also a unique way of life.
“How did a middle-aged man of 52 years reduce his blood sugar to 4.6 in two years?” Since being diagnosed with diabetes, my life has undergone a complete transformation. This statement was often complained by a patient who has had diabetes for ten years when facing friends. Indeed, the most painful aspect of diabetes may be the changes it brings to life. After being affected, one has to be cautious every moment, and even having a meal feels like going to battle. Everyone wants to lower their blood sugar, but successful cases are rare. However, Mr. Zhang may be an exception.
In his youth, Mr. Zhang was a retired chef who often had to taste various dishes during work. Perhaps due to a moment of neglect and aging, on his 50th birthday, during a check-up, he discovered that his blood sugar levels were severely above the norm. The normal blood sugar concentration should be between 3.9 – 6.1 mmol/L on an empty stomach and below 7.8 mmol/L two hours after a meal. However, when he tested his blood sugar levels, it was as high as 18.2, a value that shocked the doctors. They rarely encountered such severe cases of excessively high blood sugar levels, warning that if not lowered promptly, it might lead to devastating consequences for the body.
Over the course of two years, Mr. Zhang would regularly visit the hospital for monthly blood sugar checks. At home, he would also purchase blood glucose test strips to frequently monitor his blood sugar levels. Each check’s results filled him with confidence in successfully lowering his blood sugar. On his 52nd birthday, when he went for a check-up again, the results showed that not only had his blood sugar levels completely normalized but were even better than many young individuals, at just 4.6. Facing such results, the doctor expressed surprise, considering it quite rare for a patient to have such a significant and rapid decrease in blood sugar without medication over two years. Upon inquiry by the doctor, Mr. Zhang finally shared his experience of reducing his blood sugar.
“Reducing blood sugar from 18.2 to 4.6 in two years – What are the three key factors to learn from?”
1. Always have blood glucose test strips at home and check blood sugar levels whenever necessary.
Mr. Zhang is a person with a well-thought-out plan who had the habit of planning things since childhood. Therefore, upon discovering his high blood sugar levels, he bought many blood glucose test strips from the pharmacy and would measure his blood sugar levels before and after each meal. If he noticed that his blood sugar levels were above the expected range, he would have a lighter meal, and if they were within the expected range, he would eat a bit more meat. Constantly observing his blood sugar changes allowed him to make adjustments to his diet promptly. Knowing your blood sugar levels is crucial to increasing the success of lowering blood sugar!
2. Eat more vegetables and less rice.
Doctors often advise diabetes patients that controlling what they eat is key to lowering blood sugar. However, this advice is sometimes misunderstood by patients who think eating less will reduce their blood sugar. Nonetheless, enduring hunger might lead to the failure of blood sugar reduction. The body needs energy as it is composed of flesh and blood. Continuously decreasing the amount of rice consumed may show short-term effects, but it will inevitably result in malnutrition, weakened physical conditions, and issues related to enduring prolonged hunger. It is essential to change the nutritional composition rather than just reducing food intake. Rice contains more sugar content than meat and vegetables; hence, consuming less rice and more vegetables and meat in each meal not only reduces sugar intake but also ensures a balanced daily nutrition intake.
It is this scientific dietary habit that has allowed Mr. Zhang to easily and quickly lower his blood sugar levels.
3. Strong willpower.
Dear readers, among you, there are bound to be some high blood sugar patients who are somewhat aware of these sugar-reducing measures. However, only a few can truly achieve this reduction, often due to the difficulty of perseverance. Whether during holiday gatherings with delicious dishes or indulging in extra rice during regular days, the surplus of sugar can hinder the decrease in blood sugar levels.
Mr. Zhang considered his plan of utmost importance and executed it meticulously. His unwavering commitment to the plan enabled him to consistently implement his sugar-reduction strategies every day. This mental perseverance is what many diabetes patients lack – persistence is indeed the best method for reducing blood sugar.
For some individuals, apart from the above three points, the difficulty of lowering blood sugar might also be due to a lack of awareness regarding the dangers of high blood sugar. These complications are not just alarmist statements but real challenges faced by every diabetes companion. Before deciding to lower blood sugar, it is essential to understand the risks associated with these diseases.
Two diseases with an increased risk due to long-term high blood sugar:
• High blood sugar can trigger painless heart attacks.
In individuals with high blood sugar levels, sugar can damage the coronary arteries’ blood vessels and the nerve cells in the heart region, leading to blocked nerve signal transmission. Once the nerves are damaged, the ability to transmit pain signals is hindered, making it extremely dangerous. This means that regardless of myocardial ischemia or heart attack, individuals cannot anticipate them in advance. Often, abnormalities are detected at the onset of the condition, but by then, it might be too late, and the person could potentially go into shock or die suddenly. The danger of painless heart attacks is more challenging to prevent compared to regular heart attacks.
• Diabetic foot ulcers.
If you were told that a minor scratch on your foot would result in amputation, would you believe it? Sadly, this is the risk that diabetes patients have to bear. Prolonged high blood sugar concentrations in the body can lead to blood vessel damage, making bleeding more likely. Cutting yourself when your blood sugar levels are high will cause fats and cells in the blood to accumulate at the wound site, forming plaques. The feet of diabetic patients are often the first to show signs of this condition. Since the feet are farthest from the heart, they are also most prone to arterial blockages. Once the blood vessels are completely blocked, amputation becomes one of the choices for the patient.
Currently, the number of diabetes patients in China is increasing, and the age of onset is getting younger, indicating the severity of the condition. Reducing sugar and lowering blood sugar levels present a challenge to every diabetes companion. Hopefully, Mr. Zhang’s experience in lowering his blood sugar can be helpful to all of you. Do not let diabetes dictate your life; instead, tackle it as a disease that can be overcome.
【Reference】
1. How dangerous are the complications of diabetes? · Beijing Daily · November 24, 2021
2. 10 dietary misconceptions about diabetes. How many are you wrong about? · Beijing Youth Daily · November 20, 2020
3. Diabetes has always been known as the “silent killer.” This medication offers new possibilities for sugar control. · Life Times · March 16, 2017
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