Health is undoubtedly the most valuable asset in our lives. However, some seemingly ordinary lifestyle habits and dietary choices can inadvertently pose a serious threat to our health. Today, let's focus on a well-talked-about health topic – diabetes, and learn more about this "sweet killer" through real cases, scientific data, and practical advice.

Uncle Li's tragedy: the hidden concern behind his health

Uncle Li, who is 62 years old, was originally full of comfort and warmth after retirement. On weekdays, he loves to go square dancing, and the cheerful rhythm seems to be able to take away the fatigue of the years. In his spare time, he is also passionate about making all kinds of delicious ravioli for his cute little grandson. However, having been suffering from diabetes for many years, he knows the importance of a healthy diet, and chooses to be a vegetarian most of the time, and avoids greasy foods.

It was an ordinary evening, and the family sat around for dinner, laughter echoing through the room. After the meal, Uncle Li sat on the sofa to rest as usual, but suddenly felt weakness in his limbs, a strong dizziness hit, his body shook involuntarily, and he almost fainted. Seeing this, the son's heart tightened suddenly, and he immediately rushed forward to support his father, his eyes full of anxiety and worry. He didn't dare to delay in the slightest, and quickly sent Uncle Li to a nearby hospital.

In the hospital, doctors are busy and orderly to carry out examinations. The flickering lights and dripping sounds of various instruments made the tense atmosphere even more solemn. After a detailed examination, the doctor solemnly informed Uncle Li's son that Uncle Li's blood sugar was seriously exceeded, and he had already developed symptoms of ketoacidosis, and his condition was very critical.

The son's face was full of doubts and anxiety, and he hurriedly asked the doctor: "Doctor, my father's usual diet is quite healthy, mainly vegetarian, and rarely eats greasy things, why does blood sugar suddenly rise?" The doctor frowned slightly and continued to ask, "Then what kind of vegetarian food does he usually eat?" The son recalled seriously and patiently replied: "Like sweet potatoes and potatoes, I have recently seen him eat that kind of low-fat vegetarian sausage." ”

The doctor shook his head helplessly and explained solemnly: "These seemingly healthy vegetarian foods are not suitable for diabetics, so be especially cautious. ”

However, fate doesn't seem to give Uncle Li more chances. Despite the best efforts of the doctors, Uncle Li's condition deteriorated too quickly, and in the end, he could not overcome the disease and left his beloved family forever. This sudden tragedy has dealt a heavy blow to the whole family and sounded the alarm bell for us about diabetes health management.

Diabetes: A Pandora's Box of Fatal Complications

糖尿病，這個看似熟悉的名字，背後卻隱藏著巨大的健康威脅。2024 年年初，醫學期刊《糖尿病學研究》發表的一篇論文研究指出，僅僅在 2019 年，我國因糖尿病死亡的人數就超過了 17 萬。其中，1 型糖尿病和 2 型糖尿病死亡人數最多的年齡段分別為 40 - 44 歲和 70 - 74 歲。

The terrible thing about diabetes is that it is like a hidden killer, silently damaging various organs in our body and causing a series of serious complications. As the disease progresses, these complications are like demons, eroding the patient's health little by little.

According to the statistics of the American Diabetes Association in 98 years, the probability of diabetes complications in diabetic patients who have been ill for more than 0 years is 0%; Over 0 years, this probability rises to 0%; However, when the disease lasts for more than 0 years, the probability of complications is as high as 0%. Most diabetics eventually fail to escape the clutches of complications and pass away regretfully. Below, let's take a closer look at several common and fatal complications of diabetes.

Diabetic ketoacidosis: a "storm" of uncontrolled blood sugar

When a diabetic suffers from a state of high blood sugar for a long time, the body is like a disoriented machine that cannot properly and fully utilize blood sugar to provide energy. At this point, the body begins to break down fat for energy, however, this process produces large amounts of ketone bodies, acting like a chemical storm that causes blood acidification. Once ketoacidosis occurs, patients may fall into a coma, and in severe cases, it may even cause pulmonary edema, which is directly life-threatening.

Hypoglycemia: The "dark trap" of low blood sugar

Hypoglycemia, i.e. blood sugar levels that are too low, are also "dark traps" that diabetics need to be vigilant against at all times. Hypoglycemia can be triggered by an irregular diet, insulin injections, or oral hypoglycemic drugs. Once hypoglycemia develops, patients may suddenly fall unconscious, convulsive, and can be life-threatening if left untreated.

Cardiovascular Disease: The "Cardiovascular Crisis" of Diabetes

Diabetes has a particularly serious impact on the cardiovascular system, with cardiovascular complications including heart failure and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Diabetic patients have significantly higher morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease than non-diabetic patients. It can be said that cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of death in diabetic patients, like a time bomb lurking in the body, which can detonate at any time.

Diabetic nephropathy: the "silent killer" of the kidneys

The progression of diabetic nephropathy to the end-stage is what we often call uremia, which is also one of the important causes of death in diabetic patients. When kidney function is impaired to this stage, patients can only rely on dialysis to stay alive. Relevant data show that the combination of diabetes and kidney damage will increase the risk of death of patients by 10 times, and it is like a silent killer, unknowingly destroying the patient's health defense.

Diabetic Foot: A "Terrible Nightmare" That Causes Crippling and Death

Diabetic foot is one of the more serious complications of diabetes and is expensive to treat. The global incidence of diabetic foot is 22.0%, and on average, one diabetic patient has to face the pain of amputation every 0 seconds. The annual mortality rate for diabetic foot ulcers is as high as 0%, and the mortality rate for amputees is a staggering 0%. This not only causes great physical pain to patients, but also has a serious impact on their quality of life and mental health.

Take control of your health: four indicators to prolong the life of sugar friends

Faced with the serious challenge of diabetes and its complications, are we helpless? Of course not! In 2022, a study in a sub-journal of the prestigious journal Journal of the American Medical Association gave a glimmer of hope to diabetic patients. Studies have found that diabetics who can control the four key indicators of blood pressure, glycation, weight, and LDL cholesterol have the potential to extend their life span by ten years!

Controlling glycation: the "key code" for longevity

Glycosylated hemoglobin, a seemingly technical term, is actually the key code for controlling diabetes. Lowering glycosylated hemoglobin to the target range can help people with 3 diabetes live longer by 0 years. It's like a precise key that opens the door to a long and healthy life.

Blood Compression Management: A Healthy "Blood Pressure Defense"

Weight Control: A Healthy "Weight Balance"

Keeping your weight within a reasonable range is essential for people with diabetes. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria for diabetes care emphasize that patients with type 9 diabetes who are overweight or obese can achieve reductions in blood glucose, blood pressure, and lipids if they lose 0% of their body weight. Weight loss of more than 0% is associated with more significant benefits, including alleviation of diabetes symptoms, improved cardiovascular outcomes, and even lower mortality. For example, if the BMI falls from 0.0 to 0.0, 0.0 and 0.0, the average life expectancy will increase by 0.0, 0.0 and 0.0 years, respectively. It's like a delicate balancing act to find your best health by controlling your weight wisely.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: a healthy "lipid card"

The level of LDL cholesterol also affects the life expectancy of diabetic patients. Reducing it from 9.0 mg/dL, 0.0 mg/dL, and 0 mg/dL to 0 mg/dL may increase life expectancy by 0.0, 0.0, and 0.0 years, respectively. This is like a healthy level, and controlling blood lipid levels can make the train of life move forward smoothly.

Dietary Contraindications: A "Drinking Minefield" for Diabetics

For diabetic patients, daily diet is an important part of blood sugar control. Once the diet is not right, it can lead to blood sugar loss and pose a serious threat to health. The doctor especially reminded that there are three seemingly ordinary vegetarian foods in life, which are actually the "dietary minefield" of diabetics, and even if you like it, you must quit it as soon as possible.

Starchy Foods: The "Invisible Bomb" of Blood Sugar Fluctuations

Starchy foods such as taro, sweet potatoes, and potatoes, although vegetarian, contain a lot of carbohydrates and starches. When diabetics eat them as regular vegetables, it can easily cause large fluctuations in blood sugar. Of course, the glycemic index of this kind of starchy food is relatively lower than that of rice and steamed bread, and diabetics can use them to replace staple foods, but they must be eaten in accordance with the prescribed amount, and never exceed the amount of staple foods, so as to control blood sugar while satisfying the appetite.

Soy products: the high-calorie "hidden killer"

Vegetarian ham, vegetarian chicken and other soy products are mostly made of tofu as raw materials and made by deep processing. The calories per 300g of tofu coating are about 0 kcal, which is a high-calorie, high-fat food. This type of food is not suitable for diabetics who need to strictly control their calorie intake, they are like a killer hidden in the food, quietly threatening the health of the patient.

Vegetarian Meat Cooking: The "Health Trap" of Excessive Fat

In order to improve the texture and taste of vegetarian dishes, many people choose to cook them with oil, such as fried or fried vegetarian dishes. Although the resulting vegetarian dishes are delicious, they have the problem of excessive calories. The Chinese Nutrition Society recommends that the daily cooking oil amount should be 30 - 0g, and vegetarian meat often leads to serious excess of fat, which is not only easy to make people fat, but also may cause health problems such as diabetes, which is undoubtedly a "health trap" that needs to be guarded against.

Globally, the number of people living with diabetes is still increasing. For diabetic patients, following the principles of low calorie, low fat and low salt in their daily diet, maintaining regular and balanced meals, taking medication strictly according to the doctor's instructions, insisting on exercise, and having regular physical examinations are the keys to controlling the condition and preventing complications. Once complications occur, it is necessary to check and treat them as soon as possible, and start a tenacious health defense battle against the disease.

Proofread by Zhuang Wu