Diabetes Head On 4th Edition April 2021 | Page 17

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with healthy lifestyle practices and exercising for at least 30 minutes for most days of the week ( brisk walks that get your heart rate up slightly could do ). Going on a Mediterranean diet or incorporating several elements of a Mediterranean diet into your daily eating habits , i . e . plenty of fruits and vegetables . Lower your salt intake to no more than 2 grams of sodium a day . Maintain a healthy weight – body mass index , i . e . BMI ( height / weight squared ) of no more than 30 .
In summary , to prevent stroke and manage diabetes , a ) know your numbers : BP , blood glucose , daily salt intake ; BMI ; b ) take your medications as prescribed ; c ) be mentally and physically active ; d ) eat a rainbow diet as much as possible .
5 ) How can one recognize stroke symptoms ( family members or carers ) while in the home environment ? What guidance / advice would you give family members to take and immediate action when symptoms are recognized ?
Stroke can happen to anyone – any age , any time – and everyone needs to know the stroke warning signs and the importance of immediately calling for help
It ’ s easy with the acronym FAST Knowing FAST and responding quickly in a stroke emergency may mean the difference between recovery and disability .
Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop , or is it numb ? Ask the person to smile . Is the person ’ s smile uneven ?
Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb ? Ask the person to raise both arms . Does one arm drift downward ?
Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred ? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand ? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like “ The sky is blue .”
Time to Call for Help - If someone shows any of these symptoms , even if the symptoms go away , call the emergency number and get to a hospital immediately . Check the time so you can tell emergency responders when the first symptoms appeared .
6 ) What advocacy measures can be taken to prevent TIAs ( mini-strokes ) and strokes in people living with diabetes ?
Managing your diabetes and working with your healthcare provider to achieve your target health numbers like A1C and blood pressure is key to preventing a cardiovascular event , like a stroke or heart attack .
7 ) What innovations are there in the treatment of stroke ? These could be devices , technology or medications ?
Different kinds of stroke require different treatment . Read more here : https :// www . stroke . org / en / about-stroke / types-of-stroke
8 ) What is the role or responsibility of the Media in stroke prevention ?
Help people understand that up to 80 % of strokes can be prevented and that the leading cause of preventable stroke is high blood pressure .
Lowering your blood pressure cuts your risk of stroke for anyone . The good news is that high blood pressure can be controlled . Your blood pressure is more than a one-time reading at the

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