How to Manage Your Diabetes

The three main types of diabetes are-

Type 1 diabetes. Your body does not make insulin. Insulin helps the body use glucose from food for energy.

Type 2 diabetes. When the body does not make or use insulin efficiently. It is the most common form of diabetes.

Gestational diabetes. It may occur during pregnancy. Although this form of diabetes usually gets cured after the baby is born, a relapse of type 2 diabetes may be possible later in life.

1. Have Knowledge About Diabetes
Glucose comes into the blood from the food we eat. The pancreas releases a hormone called insulin into the blood. Insulin helps glucose present in blood to get into your cells. If your body doesn’t make enough insulin, or if insulin doesn’t work the way it should, glucose can’t get into your cells. Instead, it stays at higher levels in your blood. This is diabetes.

Diabetes can present itself in many signs and symptoms. You should acquire knowledge about these symptoms, for example, you can learn from your doctor.

Diabetes can cause serious health problems over the time. It can damage your eyes, kidneys, nerves, teeth and gums. It can cause heart attack, stroke, and may even cause loss of a foot or leg.

2. Control Your Blood Glucose Level
Studies show that keeping your blood glucose close to normal helps prevent or delay many serious problems that diabetes can cause over the time. One thing that can help you control your glucose level is to keep regular track of it.

You can do this by checking your glucose a number of times each day, and getting regularly an A1C test. Maintain a record of your blood glucose readings.

3. Know Your Diabetes ABCs
Work with your doctor to reach your ABC goals. This can help lower your chances of having long-term problems caused by diabetes. Here’s what the ABCs of diabetes stand for:

‘A’ for the A1C test- It shows what your blood glucose has been over the last three months. You should get an A1C test every 3 months if your test results are not yet at goal set by your doctor. You should get an AIC test at least 2 times a year if your AIC results are at goal.

‘B’ for Blood pressure- High blood pressure makes your heart work too hard.

‘C’ for Cholesterol- LDL or “bad” cholesterol can build up and clog your blood vessels. HDL or “good” cholesterol helps remove cholesterol from your blood vessels.

4. Take Medicines for Diabetes Exactly as Your Doctor Prescribes
If needed, your doctor may recommend some pills or insulin. Insulin can be taken in the form of insulin-injections, pens, or pumps. Diabetes medicines help keep blood glucose in the target range suggested by your doctor.

5. Follow Self-care Plan
You can avoid long-term problems of diabetes by taking good care of yourself. You can use this self-care plan:

1) Use Diabetes meal plan- Ask your doctor or dietician for a diabetes meal plan to help you choose healthy foods. Some healthy food habits are-

• Eat lots of vegetables and fruits. Try picking from the rainbow of colors available to maximize variety.

• Eat fish, dried beans, and lentils. Eat non-starchy vegetables such as spinach, carrots, broccoli or green beans with meals.

• Choose non-fat dairy products such as skim milk, non-fat yogurt, and non-fat cheese.

• Choose lean meats. Remove the skin from chicken and turkey.

• Choose whole grain foods over processed grain products.

• Eat foods that have less sugar, salt, and fat.

2) Be Physically Active- Before you begin exercising, discuss with your doctor. Your doctor will advise you, according to your health status, which exercises are suitable and safe for you.

3) Maintain a normal body weight.

4) Stress can raise your blood glucose. While it is hard to remove stress from your life, you can learn to handle it.

5) Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.

6) Check your feet every day for cuts, blisters, red spots, and swelling. Call your doctor right away about any sores that do not go away.

7) Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Floss your teeth to remove plaque.

8) Report any changes in your eyesight to your doctor.

6. Get Routine Care and Tests

• Diabetes care requires a health care team which includes a primary doctor, eye doctor, foot doctor (podiatrist), dentist, dietician, diabetes educator, and a counselor. See this team regularly to find and treat any problems early. Ask what steps you can take to reach your treatment goals.

• At each visit to your doctor, be sure you have a blood pressure check, A1C test, foot check, weight check, and a review of your self-care plan. Show your blood glucose record book to your doctor at every visit.

• Ask your doctor, how often you should get cholesterol test, triglyceride test, complete foot exam, dental exam, dilated eye exam, flu shot, pneumonia shot, and a kidney test.