Diabetes Care

Diabetes Management

1. Food - What you eat directly impacts your blood glucose levels. Follow food pyramid for effective diabetes control and blood glucose management. Take food at the same time also the same volume and never skip your food or even snacks.
2. Physically active – Try to make yourself active in your daily activities or spent some time for physical activity such as walking, swimming, exercising and playing. Physical active produce positive results in blood glucose control as well as drop in medicine (pills or insulin) requirements.
3. Loss weight – If you are obese or overweight try to reduce weight by following food pyramid and increasing physical activity or exercising. Losing weight has a direct positive impact in your blood glucose control.
4. Monitor glucose level – Closely monitor your blood glucose and check your blood glucose using home glucose monitor and make a record. If you maintain your blood glucose near normal, then you can avoid many diabetic complications.
5. A1C test – Have A1C test at least two times a year. If you are health concern then it is better to have A1C test for every 3 month. If you maintain your blood glucose near normal, then your A1C level will also be near normal.
6. Medicine – Have your medicine or insulin in the same time every day without skipping or delaying. Learn to adjust your medicines with respect to your daily activity change of any rare diet change.
7. Scheduled exams – Go for regular yearly exam for eye, kidney, heart, nerves and teeth. If you have any symptoms of diabetes complication immediately consult your doctor.
8. Vaccination – High blood glucose can weaken your immune system, which makes routine vaccination is important for diabetics. Ask your doctor for details.
9. Foot care – Give a special importance to your foot. Wash your foot in lukewarm water, dry it gently and moisturize it. Regularly check foot for any blisters, cuts, sores, redness or swelling, if found any consult your doctor immediately for treatment.
10. Blood pressure, Cholesterol – If you are hypertension and or cholesterol keep it in control with medication to avoid or postponed diabetes complications such as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.
11. Aspirin - Aspirin interferes with your blood's ability to clot. Taking a daily aspirin can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke a major concern when you have diabetes.
12. Don’t smoke – If you are a smoker plan to quit. Smoking increases your risk of various diabetes complications, including heart attack, stroke, nerve damage and kidney disease.
13. Alcohol – If you are a drinker do so only in moderation and always with a meal.
14. Stress – Stress causes hormonal imbalance and prevents insulin to work normally and end up with a bad blood glucose control. So take stress seriously and try to calm your self or practice meditation.

Next: Food Pyramid | Diabetes diet