Disclaimer: The content of the article is for reference only, the storyline is purely fictional, intended to popularize health knowledge, if you feel unwell, please seek medical attention offline.
Aunt Liu is 65 years old this year and has been living a leisurely life since she retired. Her biggest hobby is to get together with her old sisters to play mahjong and taste all kinds of food by the way.
On this day, Aunt Liu had just finished a hearty lunch and was preparing to start her routine mahjong game. Suddenly, she felt a wave of dizziness and blurred vision. Seeing this, her companions rushed her to the hospital.
After a series of tests, the doctor told Aunt Liu: Your blood sugar has reached a dangerous level and you need to start taking hypoglycemic drugs immediately. Aunt Liu was both surprised and worried when she heard this. She never thought she would develop diabetes, let alone get so serious.
After returning home, Aunt Liu began to take hypoglycemic drugs according to the doctor's instructions. She was secretly glad that she had discovered the problem in time, thinking that as long as she took her medicine on time, she could easily control her condition.
However, what happened next made her realize that taking hypoglycemic drugs was not as simple as she imagined.
One morning, Aunt Liu woke up and felt dizzy and weak. She remembered that she forgot to eat dinner last night because she was too tired, so she took hypoglycemic drugs directly. She barely got up to prepare breakfast, but as soon as she walked to the kitchen, she passed out and fell to the ground.
Fortunately, her son happened to come to visit her, and he found her in time and took her to the hospital.
The doctor told Aunt Liu solemnly: "You are a typical hypoglycemic reaction caused by hypoglycemic drugs. When taking hypoglycemic drugs, you must pay attention to your diet and do not take the medicine on an empty stomach. Only then did Aunt Liu realize that hypoglycemic drugs were also potentially dangerous.
A few days later, Aunt Liu attended a meeting for diabetics. At the meeting, she met Mr. Zhang, who was also taking hypoglycemic drugs.
Mr. Zhang shared his experience: "When I first started taking the medicine, I thought it was working well, so I increased the dosage without permission. As a result, within a few days, he developed severe symptoms of hypoglycemia and almost died. "
Aunt Liu shuddered when she heard this. She remembered that the doctor had told her not to adjust the dosage at will, and now she finally understood the reason. Through this exchange, she learned that many patients have been at risk due to the improper use of hypoglycemic drugs.
In order to better understand the use of hypoglycemic drugs, Aunt Liu began to consult relevant information. She found that the Japan Diabetes Society had issued guidelines for the use of hypoglycemic drugs, which specifically emphasized two precautions:
First, you must maintain a normal diet when taking hypoglycemic drugs. Taking the drug on an empty stomach can cause a severe, life-threatening hypoglycemic reaction.
Second, take the medicine strictly according to the doctor's instructions, and do not increase or decrease the dose at will. Excessive dosage may cause hypoglycemia, and underdose may not be effective in controlling blood sugar.
Aunt Liu took this information to heart and was determined to strictly follow the doctor's instructions. She began to carefully record her daily blood sugar levels, adjust her diet, and exercise moderately. Gradually, her blood sugar control improved and her quality of life improved significantly.
A year later, Aunt Liu participated in the diabetic patient exchange meeting again. This time, she became the keynote speaker to share her experience. "Hypoglycemic drugs can really help us control our blood sugar and improve our quality of life," she said.
However, we must use it correctly. Don't neglect medication safety because of negligence or convenience. "
After the meeting, Ms. Wang, a newly diagnosed patient, asked Aunt Liu for advice: "I just started taking hypoglycemic drugs and was worried about hypoglycemia. Is there any way to prevent it?"
Aunt Liu patiently explained: "In addition to eating on time and maintaining a regular schedule, we must also learn to recognize the symptoms of hypoglycemia.
For example, when you have dizziness, palpitations, cold sweats, etc., you should measure your blood sugar immediately and replenish sugar in time. It's also a good idea to carry some candy or glucose tablets with you. "
Ms. Wang nodded thoughtfully: "It turns out that controlling blood sugar requires so many precautions. I used to think that everything would be fine with the medicine. "
Aunt Liu smiled and said, "Yes, I thought so at the beginning." In fact, hypoglycemic drugs are only one of the tools to control blood sugar. We also need to manage our health holistically through diet and exercise. "
Through this exchange, Aunt Liu not only helped other patients, but also gained new insights herself. She realized that the correct use of hypoglycemic drugs requires not only the doctor's advice, but also the patient's own sense of responsibility and self-management ability.
After returning home, Aunt Liu opened her diary and wrote down her experience: "Hypoglycemic drugs are a double-edged sword. If used well, it can help us defeat the disease; If used incorrectly, it can be harmful to health.
As patients, we must learn to live in harmony with drugs and manage our health with a scientific attitude. "
Putting down the pen, Aunt Liu looked at the sunlight outside the window and showed a relieved smile. She knows that as long as she maintains a positive and optimistic attitude and uses hypoglycemic drugs scientifically and rationally, she will be able to defeat diabetes and enjoy a healthy and beautiful life.
Bibliography:
1. Japan Diabetes Society. (2019). Guidelines for the treatment of diabetes. Tokyo: Japan Diabetes Society Press.
2. Chinese Society of Diabetes. (2020). Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in China. Chinese Journal of Diabetes Mellitus, 12(1), 4-67.
3. American Diabetes Association. (2021). Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2021. Diabetes Care, 44(Supplement 1), S1-S232.