Patient Guide
Simple recommendations for everyone:
For individuals over 40 years old, it is advisable to have the following measurements annually:
– Glucose, total cholesterol, and its fractions: HDL and LDL, especially for:
– Individuals with obesity (excess fat)
– Individuals at risk due to first-degree relatives with diabetes, cardiac pathology, macrosomic infants (weighing over 4 kg at birth), or sedentary lifestyle
– Women with polycystic ovary syndrome
– Patients with hypertension
It is important to know:
As individuals age, anyone can experience symptoms such as headache, blurred vision, and nausea. If you experience any of the listed symptoms:
1. Measure your blood pressure.
2. Monitor your blood pressure values daily and consult your family physician for routine check-ups, including an electrocardiogram (EKG) and other clinical investigations to exclude arterial hypertension or other pathologies.
Dryness of the oral cavity (xerostomia), constant thirst, persistent hunger, itching in the genital area in women, and excessive weight gain may indicate impaired basal glycemia or prediabetes. In this case, the following measures are necessary:
1. Measure blood glucose levels at home if you have a glucometer.
2. Measure fasting blood glucose levels in the morning before breakfast or in an outpatient setting to rule out diabetes mellitus.
3. Weight control.
4. Follow a diet rich in fiber, fresh fruits, and vegetables, and low in foods with a high glycemic index and polyunsaturated fats.
5. Promote physical activity.
6. Quit smoking.
7. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption.
8. Manage stress.
9. Avoid a sedentary lifestyle.
Take care of your health!
