Lead: Relevant data statistics show that the number of diabetes patients in China has soared to the first place in the world, a number that is shocking. Specifically, in Chinese adults, the prevalence of diabetes is as high as 12.82%, meaning that approximately 13 out of every 100 adults are affected by diabetes.
This high prevalence not only poses a serious threat to the health of patients but also presents a huge challenge to the entire country’s public health system. Furthermore, the total number of diabetes patients in China has reached a staggering around 130 million.
Among them, male diabetes patients account for a large proportion, with approximately 70.40 million, while the number of female diabetes patients has also reached 59.45 million. This vast number once again highlights the pervasiveness and seriousness of diabetes in Chinese society.
Even more worrisome is that diabetes itself is not only a significant health issue, but its complications are crucial factors threatening patients’ lives. According to clinical statistics, approximately 8.36 million people in China face the threat of death due to diabetes complications each year.
These complications include cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, retinopathy, and more, bringing not only physical pain to patients but also a heavy burden to families and society. Faced with such a severe challenge, we need to take effective measures to address the threat of diabetes.
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How high does blood sugar need to be for it to be considered diabetes? In the medical field, the diagnosis of diabetes relies mainly on the values of fasting blood sugar and blood sugar levels two hours after a meal.
Fasting blood sugar refers to the blood sugar value measured after at least 8 hours of no caloric intake. Generally, if fasting blood sugar is greater than or equal to 7.0 mmol/L, then we need to consider the possibility of diabetes. However, this does not mean that as long as fasting blood sugar exceeds this value, it is always diabetes because blood sugar fluctuations are influenced by many factors such as diet, exercise, emotions, and more.
On the other hand, the blood sugar level two hours after a meal is measured from the first bite of food and two hours later. For postprandial blood sugar, if its value is greater than or equal to 11.1 mmol/L, accompanied by typical diabetes symptoms like polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria, and weight loss, then a diabetes diagnosis can be made.
However, it’s important to note that the diagnosis of diabetes does not solely depend on blood sugar levels. Doctors will also comprehensively evaluate patients based on their medical history, symptoms, signs, and other test results such as glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin, and C-peptide.
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These 4 signals indicate that diabetes is deteriorating, be cautious about the occurrence of complications. Continued feelings of fatigue: Diabetes patients often have unstable blood sugar levels, which can lead to body cells not receiving enough energy, resulting in persistent fatigue. If you feel abnormally tired, and even rest does not alleviate it, this could be a sign of worsening diabetes.
Blurred vision: High blood sugar can lead to increased osmotic pressure in the eyeballs, affecting vision. If you notice sudden blurriness in your vision, or if your eyes frequently feel fatigued or painful, this could be a precursor to diabetic eye complications.
Foot pain or numbness: Diabetes can damage peripheral nerves, causing abnormal sensations in the feet. If you often experience foot pain, numbness, or burning sensations, this could be a manifestation of diabetic neuropathy.
Frequent urinary tract infections: High blood sugar increases sugar content in urine, which can lead to bacterial growth in the urethra, causing urinary tract infections. If you frequently experience symptoms of urinary tract infections like increased frequency, urgency, and pain during urination, this could be a sign of diabetic urological complications.
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A man from Sichuan, in mid-stage diabetes, eats “onions” every day, and half a year later, how is his body?
Mr. Luo from Sichuan, aged 36, is a diligent and hardworking professional. He works diligently every day but unfortunately injured his lower back during work, forcing him to rest at home.
Mr. Luo has a not-so-good habit, which is his dislike for drinking water. Whenever he feels thirsty, he tends to choose beverages to quench his thirst, especially enjoying milk tea.
During the few months of recovering from his back injury, he continued with this habit. After a period of rest, although Mr. Luo’s back recovered, he found that his body seemed to be experiencing some issues.
Mr. Luo noticed an increase in his appetite, easy fatigue, and difficulty alleviating symptoms of dry and bitter mouth. This made him feel very confused and uneasy, so he decided to visit the hospital. After a series of tests, the doctor told Mr. Luo that he had developed diabetes.
Upon hearing this news, Mr. Luo found it hard to believe. He had never felt any signs of elevated blood sugar, so how could he suddenly have diabetes?
With the doctor’s explanation, Mr. Luo learned that this was largely related to his habit of frequently drinking beverages. The sugar and additives in the drinks might have been significant factors in his elevated blood sugar.
The doctor prescribed Mr. Luo some antidiabetic medications and advised him to use them reasonably at home, along with adjusting his diet and lifestyle to aid in blood sugar control. However, Mr. Luo was concerned about the potential adverse effects of long-term medication use, so he began looking for other ways to lower his blood sugar.
During his online search, Mr. Luo learned that eating onions could help lower blood sugar levels. He thought this was a natural and healthy method, so he decided to give it a try. He bought a large bag of onions and persisted in consuming some every day.
However, about a month later, Mr. Luo found that his blood sugar had not decreased, and he even experienced stomach pain. He quickly went to the hospital for a check-up, and the result revealed an ulcer in his stomach. The doctor informed him that this was somewhat related to his frequent consumption of onions.
Mr. Luo felt very perplexed and disappointed. He had thought that eating onions could help lower his blood sugar, but the results were the opposite.
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Can eating onions really lower blood sugar levels?
Regarding the question of whether eating onions can lower blood sugar, it is crucial to first understand that onions indeed contain some beneficial components for the human body, such as sulfides and flavonoids, which are considered to have the potential to lower blood sugar. However, this does not imply that eating onions can directly reduce blood sugar.
The content of these beneficial components in onions is not high, and to achieve a noticeable effect in lowering blood sugar, significant onion consumption might be required, which is not feasible in reality. Moreover, blood sugar regulation is a complex physiological process that involves the interaction of multiple hormones and enzymes and cannot be easily altered by a single food.
In addition, for diabetic patients, dietary management is only part of the treatment as it also requires a combination of medication, exercise, and other methods to comprehensively control blood sugar. Relying solely on food (like onions) to lower blood sugar might lead to neglect of other essential treatment measures, resulting in poor blood sugar control.
However, even though onions cannot directly reduce blood sugar, as a nutritionally rich vegetable, they remain a good food choice for diabetes patients. The dietary fiber in onions can help increase satiety, reduce the intake of other high-sugar, high-fat foods. Furthermore, the various vitamins and minerals in onions also contribute to maintaining normal physiological functions.
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About blood sugar regulation, consuming these “4 vegetables” regularly stabilizes blood sugar and prevents complications!
Bitter melon:
Bitter melon contains compounds like bitter melon saponins, which have remarkable blood sugar-lowering effects, stimulating insulin release and improving insulin sensitivity to help diabetes patients better control blood sugar. Additionally, bitter melon is rich in vitamins and minerals, providing various nutrients needed by diabetes patients.
Pumpkin:
Pumpkin contains a trace element called cobalt, which is essential for the synthesis of insulin in pancreatic cells, enhancing insulin activity, promoting the conversion and utilization of blood sugar. Additionally, the pectin in pumpkin can delay the absorption of sugar in the intestines, helping reduce postprandial blood sugar.
Black fungus:
Black fungus contains black fungus polysaccharides, vitamins, proteins, carotenoids, minerals like potassium, sodium, calcium, iron, among others. The black fungus polysaccharide shows blood sugar-lowering effects, with research demonstrating its ability to reduce blood sugar levels in diabetic mice and improve their insulin resistance. Therefore, black fungus is an ideal food for stabilizing blood sugar and preventing complications in diabetes patients.
Chinese Chive Flower:
Chinese chive flower is good for those who have blurred vision due to diabetes. Chinese chive flower is a vegetable that contains various beneficial compounds such as vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It may help regulate blood sugar levels and promote eye health. Beyond its potential benefits for diabetes, Chinese chive flower can be a nutritious addition to a well-rounded diet.
Red Rice Bean Sprouts:
Red rice bean sprouts are packed with fibres, vitamin C, antioxidants, and minerals, which play a significant role in diabetes management. They have a low glycemic index, meaning they won’t cause sudden spikes in blood sugar levels. Consuming red rice bean sprouts can help stabilize blood sugar and contribute to overall health.
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Persist in doing these 5 things, and blood sugar will obediently cooperate!
Regularly monitor blood sugar levels:
For diabetes patients, understanding their blood sugar levels is crucial. Through regular monitoring, we can promptly detect fluctuations in blood sugar to adjust diet, exercise, medication, and other treatment plans. It is recommended to monitor fasting blood sugar and postprandial blood sugar at least once a day and conduct monitoring under the guidance of a doctor.
Maintain a positive mindset:
Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires long-term management but does not mean a decrease in quality of life. Maintaining a positive mindset and learning to coexist peacefully with the disease are crucial for controlling blood sugar. We can try to find ways to relax and reduce stress, such as walking, listening to music, reading, etc., which can help us maintain a good mindset.
Maintain good communication with doctors:
Doctors are essential partners in treating diabetes, and maintaining good communication with them helps us better understand our condition and treatment plans. We can regularly report our blood sugar levels, diet, exercise, and other situations to the doctor so that they can adjust the treatment plan in a timely manner.
Learn about diabetes:
Understanding the mechanisms of diabetes onset, treatment methods, and prevention of complications helps us better manage our condition. We can learn relevant knowledge through reading books, attending lectures, joining patient discussion groups, etc.
Moderate exercise:
Consistent exercise has a beneficial effect on regulating insulin levels. Diabetes patients usually experience an increase in blood sugar after meals, and moderate exercise can effectively lower postprandial blood sugar, keeping it stable within a reasonable range.
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Further reading: How long can diabetes patients live? For many diabetes patients, the question of “how long can diabetes patients live?” often troubles them. However, it is important to understand that diabetes is not a deadly disease but a chronic condition that can be controlled through proper management and treatment.
The lifespan of diabetes patients depends on various factors, including the severity of the condition, treatment effectiveness, a patient’s self-management ability, and lifestyle. For those who can actively control blood sugar, maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, undergo regular medical checks, and follow doctor’s advice, their lifespan can approach or even reach the level of normal individuals.
In addition, with the continuous advancement of medical technology, the treatment and management of diabetes are constantly improving. From oral hypoglycemic drugs to insulin injections, from blood glucose monitoring devices to insulin pumps, the emergence of these technologies and devices provides more choices and better treatment outcomes for diabetes patients.
