Blogs from December, 2018

In 2012, approximately 30 million Americans were afflicted with diabetes. As more and more Americans begin to suffer from poor nutrition and weight issues, the risk of developing diabetes also increases. Diabetes increases a person’s risk of suffering from cardiac disease, stroke, and tissue damage leading to limb amputation. However, physical therapy can provide an effective alternative treatment for patients with diabetes and has the potential to minimize its severity and eliminate the need for medication. This blog discusses how physical therapy may be utilized to combat this disease.

What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition characterized by the bodies inability to produce or process insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is essential for processing sugar (glucose) in the blood. It allows cells to metabolize glucose for energy to carry out normal biological processes. Without insulin, blood glucose levels can increase to toxic levels (hyperglycemia). When cells cannot process glucose for energy, they begin to process lipids (fats) and may become malnourished.

Diabetes generally includes 3 distinct conditions:

• Type 1 Diabetes. Also known as child-onset diabetes, children and teenagers typically develop this condition when their immune system kills insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
• Type 2 Diabetes. People of all ages can develop this condition when their cells become resistant to insulin. The pancreas is also unable to produce enough insulin to compensate for the increased cell resistence.
• Gestational Diabetes. This is a genetic condition that usually occurs in women during pregnancy.

What Are the Symptoms of Diabetes?

Diabetes patients typically present with persistent body sores, high blood pressure, an impaired immune system, and sudden and unexplained weight loss. People with diabetes experience fatigue, insatiable thirst, frequent urination, increased and constant appetite, fatigue, tingling or numbness in the extremities, blurred vision, chronic body pain.

How Can Physical Therapy Treat Diabetes?

Physical therapy treatments and interventions can be used to help diabetes patients manage pain, promote mobility, and implement exercise routine to help control blood sugar levels. Treatments can also help promote healing for sores and skin conditions.

Activities and interventions that are useful measures for treating diabetes complications include”

• Motion exercises
• Walking movement restoration
• Strength training
• Flexibility and range of motion
• Endurance
• Coordination and balance
• Pain management
• Treatment for skin sores
• Regular exercise routines
• Blood sugar management
• Adaptive therapy for performing activities of daily living

Our Monmouth County Physical Therapists Are Here to Help

At ProFysio Physical Therapy, our licensed physiotherapists in Aberdeen are ready to assist you. We provide our patients with individualized attention and care, using the most current treatment techniques in fibromyalgia care. By providing you with the best therapeutic experience possible, we strive to maximize your quality of life by teaching you effective pain management techniques.