Diabetes management: Experts advise lifestyle changes to prevent blood sugar complications

Health experts are emphasizing the importance of proactive blood sugar management to prevent severe complications such as vision loss and organ damage. One case highlighted a 40-year-old man whose blood sugar spiked above 400 mg/dL, resulting in retinal microvascular bleeding and a near-loss of sight due to poor dietary habits involving sugary drinks and fried foods.

Professor Li Guangwei, an endocrinology expert with 50 years of experience, suggests a balanced approach to glucose control rather than extreme restriction. He advocates for the ‘5-0-0-1-1-1’ lifestyle principle: exercising five days a week for at least 30 minutes, avoiding sugary drinks and late-night eating, reducing starch for those with obesity, eating at least one pound of vegetables daily, and limiting dining out to once a week.

Key recommendations include maintaining a daily goal of at least 5,000 steps and managing emotional stress, as anxiety can impact endocrine function. Medical guidelines suggest that diabetes screening should begin at age 35 for those with risk factors like obesity, hypertension, or a family history of the disease. Warning signs of high blood sugar include persistent thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, numbness in limbs, skin itching, and slow-healing wounds.