The doctor explained how diabetes itself to control blood sugar and why low levels are more dangerous

Patients with diabetes need to constantly monitor blood sugar levels. About possible ways of its independent measurement and the danger of deviations from the norm told the endocrinologist, Deputy chief physician for the medical part of the health care institution “Minsk city clinical endocrinology center” Elena Otlivanchik on the air of the talk show “PRO HEALTH” on the YouTube channel “SWATCH AND LIVE”, writes sb.by.

Elena Otlivanchik noted that there are two ways to independently control blood sugar levels.

- The first way is to use a glucometer to measure the level of sugar in capillary blood. To do this, you need to prick your finger. It is better to do this not in the center, but on the side - there are fewer nerve endings. Patients with diabetes of the first type are recommended to measure sugar 4-7 times a day and more often. With the second type, the recommendations may be the same, and with a good course of the disease, in remission, control can be carried out 1-2 times a week, the doctor said.

Another method of monitoring is continuous monitoring, she added:

- Usually, special sensors are installed on the shoulder. They absolutely do not hinder movement and do not interfere with life, but at the same time measure sugar levels around the clock and send signals to our gadgets. They signal a critical decrease or increase in sugar levels. Modern sensors are installed for two weeks and during this time the patient receives information about the state of glucose levels around the clock.

She also explained the dangers of high and low sugar:

- Low sugar is more dangerous than high. In hypoglycemia, reducing the level of glucose to less than 3.9 mmol / l, in patients with diabetes mellitus, brain cells suffer, since glucose is fuel for him. If blood sugar drops sharply, the person loses consciousness. If the patient is not helped in time, he dies cells of the cerebral cortex and death occurs. Therefore, hypoglycemia is an emergency condition that requires immediate attention. If a person is conscious, we recommend following the 15/15 rule. You need to eat 15 grams of carbohydrates. This, for example, 4-5 pieces of sugar, 150 ml of cola or juice, a spoonful of jam or honey. After 15 minutes, you need to check your sugar levels again. If it has stabilized, you should eat a slow carbohydrate so that the sugar does not fall again.

If the person is unconscious, do not try to pour a sweet drink into his mouth. In this situation, emergency care and intravenous glucose are required.

- As for high sugar, it destroys the body gradually, Elena Otlivanchik continued. A person may not feel sick, but sugar already destroys the body. First of all, the vessels. Accordingly, the organs receive worse nutrition.

The doctor also said that it can help with high sugar:

- Here we can highlight the help to quickly reduce sugar and a systematic approach. To quickly reduce sugar levels, you should just drink water and do a light physical warm-up, because muscles are the main consumer of glucose, which uses it for energy. If you have already been diagnosed with diabetes, with the first type it is necessary to prick insulin. If we are talking about a systematic approach, there should be regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes a week) and control your eating behavior. The doctor told whether diabetes is inherited and what symptoms indicate the disease