Is Diabetes a Life-Threatening Disease? | Risks and Correct Knowledge
"Is diabetes a fatal disease?"
I see such misunderstandings when browsing the internet.
It is true that diabetes is said to be an "incurable disease," butit is not a "fatal disease."
However, that is only if you face it properly.
If left untreated, it can become life-threatening. That is true for any disease, isn't it?
This time, I would like to touch upon this topic of "diabetes and life."
💧 Is diabetes a fatal disease? | A mother's words in response to her daughter's question
Right after finding out about the diabetes, my daughter said to me,
"I guess I won't be able to live long, huh?"
No, no, that is not the case at all.
My mother had diabetes in her 30s and lived until her 80s.
And she was unusually energetic, too (laughs).
So, my answer when asked was,
"There's no way that's true.
Grandma lived a long life.
It'll be fine, as long as you take care of it properly.
Besides, it's not an incurable disease!"
In fact, my father also had diabetes, but he recovered.
After that, he seemed to be careful about his lifestyle, and he was healthy even after turning 60.
Unfortunately, he passed away from another intractable disease.
However, that was not due to diabetes.
So, what exactly is scary about it?
If you don't have proper knowledge, you will only be filled with fear.
So, I asked an AI.
😊 Diabetes is rarely a direct cause of death
Mother: My daughter says she will die from diabetes?
AI: Diabetes is not a disease that leads directly to death.
Mother: I thought so. Then why is such misinformation spreading?
AI: It's the complications that are scary.
Because complications can lead to loss of life.
Mother: But is it dangerous if blood sugar levels are high?
AI: You won't die just because your blood sugar remains high.
Many people think that, though.
However, complications that progress slowly will appear in a way that threatens your life years later.
Mother: What kind of complications are there?
😇 Life-threatening complications
AI:
・Retinopathy → Blindness
・Nephropathy → Dialysis
・Neuropathy → Gangrene/Amputation
・Myocardial infarction/Stroke → Can lead to sudden death
What is especially scary is that it **"progresses without pain."**
By the time you notice the symptoms, it may already be in an irreversible state.
Mother: I hear the terms "high blood sugar" and "low blood sugar."
At what level is it considered high blood sugar?
I also want to know the numbers for low blood sugar.
AI: "High blood sugar" is 200 mg/dL or higher.
"Low blood sugar" is 70 mg/dL or lower.
Be careful, because "low blood sugar" is scarier than "high blood sugar."
Mother: What?!... My daughter's highest blood sugar level was 329...
Does that mean it was pretty bad?!
AI: That's right, so I think that's why she was recommended to be hospitalized.
Mother: That's scary... I can't believe she made it this far without knowing...
AI: Yeah, she did her best.
No, no, it's not just a matter of "she did her best."
Not knowing is truly a scary thing.
So, what exactly should one do to avoid "high blood sugar" and "low blood sugar"?
In the next chapter, I would like to look at those countermeasures.
✅ Countermeasures to avoid high blood sugar and low blood sugar
🍬 [To Prevent High Blood Sugar]
1. Review your eating habits
Suppress rapid spikes in post-meal blood sugar with "Veggie-First (vegetables -> protein -> carbohydrates)"
Choose foods with a low GI (Glycemic Index) value
e.g., brown rice over white rice, soba over udon, whole wheat bread over white breadAvoid snacking and binge eating (as this causes blood sugar levels to fluctuate wildly)
2. Regulate your meal times
Eat three regular meals at consistent times
Late dinners and midnight snacks increase the risk of high blood sugar (making it harder for blood sugar to drop while sleeping)
3. Establish an exercise routine
Even light walking is effective in lowering blood sugar levels
The timing of 30 minutes to 1 hour after a meal is most effective
4. Sleep and stress management are also important
Lack of sleep and stress make it easier for blood sugar levels to rise
Mental health care is also part of high blood sugar prevention!
🍭 [To Prevent Low Blood Sugar]
1. Balance your meals, medication, and exercise
If you are using insulin or medication, a gap between meals and timing can lead to hypoglycemia
Do not exercise on an empty stomach
② Use snacks to "top up" (especially in the following cases)
When meals are delayed
When blood sugar is low before bedtime
On days when you are feeling fatigued
Example: A small banana, crackers, a slice of cheese, etc.
③ Beware of rebound hypoglycemia
Consuming 90% or more glucose (like ramune candy) all at once can cause it to spike too rapidly, leading to a subsequent drop
The "15g Rule" (= consume 15g of glucose little by little and monitor the situation)
④ Make it a habit to notice signs of hypoglycemia
Hand tremors, cold sweats, loss of concentration, etc.
It is okay to trust your intuition, like Mi-chan, when you feel that "something is wrong with my body"
👨👩👧 Support points for family members
Beyond just preparing meals, show a "willingness to manage it together"
Keep glucose and juice stocked in several places around the house for sudden changes
It is important to create an atmosphere where you can say, "Don't push yourself" or "Shall we take a little break?"
✨Summary
With both high and low blood sugar, it can sometimes be too late once it has already happened.
By incorporating simple preventive habits into your daily life, you can live with the disease with peace of mind.
It is not that you cannot live because you have diabetes, but rather that you want to manage diabetes well in order to live.