According to the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) by the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Malaysia, approximately 1 in 5 Malaysians have been diagnosed with diabetes [1]. This survey also discovered that just over half the Malaysian population (50.1%) were diagnosed as either obese or overweight [1].
Body mass index (BMI) is directly associated with diabetes and insulin resistance. For instance, it can cause an impairment of pancreatic beta cells, which leads to a lack of blood glucose control. In addition, individuals can be at an increased risk of overt diabetes if pancreatic beta cells failure is accompanied by insulin resistance [2].
In this regard, it is essential for diabetes patients to have a supportive environment, which has been found to be effective in helping patients with chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity to manage their conditions better. For example, poorly managed diabetes can lead to severe health complications that may require external assistance.
As such, the role of a caregiver can be important to support to manage their diabetes at home – caregivers can help to ensure patients are consuming a healthy diet, taking their medication on time – or help them to navigate the challenges of daily living, especially if they are recovering from the complications of an untreated chronic disease, such as a stroke, or amputation.
Here are some of the ways that a caregiver can help patients with diabetes to lose weight and stay on the right track when it comes to effective diabetes management.
Helping Diabetes Patients to Manage Their Weight More Effectively
One of the ways in which a caregiver can aid a person with diabetes who is overweight or obese is to ensure that he or she is eating a healthy diet. Caregivers can support meal preparations that are low in calories yet healthy and avoid high glycaemic foods, which helps to both maintain good blood sugar control and encourage weight loss.
Similarly, a caregiver can help diabetes patients who are overweight to “burn” the excess calories by motivating them to exercise regularly. This motivation may not be just words of encouragement, but also active participation alongside the patient in a group workout or exercise routines that require a partner [3].
As a matter of fact, weight loss can even prevent individuals from developing diabetes to begin with. This is evident from the findings of a study, which found that a 5% reduction in fat was able to slash an individual’s risk of developing diabetes by as much as 25% [4]. At the same time, weight loss has also been associated with the effective control and prevention of other chronic diseases, which include coronary heart disease, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and cardiorespiratory failure [5].
New Innovative Treatments to Help Manage Diabetes and Weight
It is also important for caregivers to ensure that a patient with diabetes adheres to their medication regimen and takes their medicines as per the prescribed quantity and schedule.
However, some conventional therapies can make adherence to a specific medication regimen difficult – particularly insulin – as they may require the administration of multiple injections daily. Fortunately, a number of innovative, new therapies that provide more than just glycaemic control have been developed over the past decade. These include glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), which can be administered once-daily or even once-weekly, and offer additional benefits such as healthy weight loss and protection against risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Available in multi-use or single-use, disposable pen devices, GLP-1 RAs mimic the action of the natural GLP-1 hormone. GLP-1 is produced in the small intestine when we eat and signals the pancreas to produce insulin in order to reduce blood sugar as carbohydrates convert to glucose. GLP-1 is also responsible for stimulating fullness. Hence, in addition to increasing insulin secretion, GLP-1RAs can prevent patients with diabetes from overeating and help to slow down the digestion of food, which in turn, keeps an after-meal sugar spike from occurring, leading to good glucose and weight control [6,7]. Some GLP-1RAs such as liraglutide and semaglutide, have proven to provide cardiovascular protection in diabetes individuals with high/very high cardiovascular risk and established cardiovascular diseases.
Together, the less frequent injection schedule and ease of use of GLP-1 RAs may offer the advantage of better adherence to treatment and make it more convenient for caregivers to provide care.
The doctor will be the best qualified source to guide and advise you on the best approach to manage diabetes effectively. Early detection is also a key preventive measure, and whether your dependent is at risk or is someone with diabetes or obesity, having regular health screening and checks can help to both detect and monitor their condition to help them achieve a better quality of life.
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