Diet for tourists to Vietnam to avoid complications due to high blood pressure

By Van Vu

03/11/2024

Diet plays an important role in controlling and preventing complications of diabetes. A diet that ensures adequate nutrition in terms of quantity and quality can help balance blood sugar and ensure a balanced, safe condition when suffering from diabetes.

Diet for tourists to Vietnam to avoid complications due to high blood pressure

1. General overview

Vascular complications due to diabetes are divided into 2 types: macrovascular complications such as coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease and stroke; microvascular complications such as glomerular disease, neuropathy, retinopathy.

In addition, peripheral vascular disease is also common in diabetic patients. This disease is caused by damage to the blood vessels that supply blood to the legs, reducing blood flow to the legs. Poor blood supply causes the skin of the legs to become dry, cracked, and susceptible to ulcers and infections. These symptoms are often subtle and difficult to detect, such as: changes in skin color, cold or numb legs, leg pain when resting, etc.

Peripheral vascular damage, if combined with peripheral neuropathy, will cause wounds to heal slowly. On the other hand, high blood sugar is a favorable environment for bacteria to grow and reduces the body's resistance. Therefore, wounds can become ulcerated, infected, and can progress to necrosis if not treated properly and promptly. At that time, the risk of amputation is very high.

People with diabetes for more than 10 years or over 60 years old; poor blood sugar control; foot deformities, calluses, foot blisters...; have had foot ulcers; have signs of peripheral nerve damage and/or peripheral blood vessel damage; reduced vision; have kidney complications; wear shoes that do not fit the feet... Foot ulcers are likely to occur if there are many of the above risk factors or there is one risk but at a severe level.

2. Nutrition to limit complications of Diabetes

Important groups of substances that should be included in the diet include: Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, etc. To avoid complications of diabetes, patients should not eat too many sweets, but should divide them into many small meals. Note that you should eat 3 main meals and eat enough, do not eat too much and at the same time should eat extra meals. This will help avoid hypoglycemia later and hyperglycemia after main meals.

To avoid complications of diabetes, patients should avoid eating foods high in fat such as fatty meat, animal organs, egg yolks, etc.

Among the foods that help prevent complications of diabetes, patients should eat fruits that are less sweet such as grapefruit, guava, dragon fruit... Limit eating fruits that increase blood sugar and gradually lead to complications of diabetes in general such as custard apple, jackfruit, lychee, longan, watermelon...

Regarding drinks, if you want to prevent complications of diabetes, you need to limit the use of alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, carbonated soft drinks, etc.

Normally, good blood sugar control will help limit complications. Patients should keep their fasting blood sugar level between 4 - 7.2 mmol/L and postprandial blood sugar level not exceeding 10 mmol/L.

Eating regularly and on time (especially for patients taking insulin) is very important in preventing complications of diabetes.

If you are a foreigner who needs to use medical services while traveling in Vietnam, your medical benefits will be supported as Vietnamese citizens. To ensure your medical benefits are best guaranteed, you should go with an interpreter to exchange and receive information fully and effectively.

Articles by iguide.ai For reference only, not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment.

SERV-NDT-CP75-13-06-2024