How to Do Basic Diabetes Care Properly

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By Kallicat
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Diabetes is a growing epidemic, not only in the United States but all over the world. Often the diagnosis of diabetes comes as a shock to many people and then the real shock, changing your daily habits! The following information will help all diabetic complete basic diabetes care properly. This will assist the diabetic with good control and if you aren’t diabetic yet, these tips will perhaps prevent you from becoming diabetic.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

One of the most important self-care tips for a diabetic, is to check your blood glucose daily. Your doctor should work with you to set up a testing schedule for your particular situation. People who use insulin must test more often than someone who manages their care through diet and exercise only. Make sure you have a reliable meter and test strips on hand at all times. I would encourage you to have a back-up meter just in case.
Step 2

In conjunction with testing is to know your numbers; this includes knowing your A1c. Testing to be testing without knowing what the numbers mean is pointless. Set testing goals with your doctor. The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes strive for an A1c of 7 or lower. The American Endocrinologists would like diabetics to strive for 6.5 instead. The lower your A1c, the better you are managing your diabetes care and hopefully the less complications will ensue.
Step 3

If you are taking medication for your diabetes, you should know what it is you are taking and why that particular medication was prescribed for you. Stick to a schedule for your medications and remember to take them. Don’t skip doses. Know which medications can or cannot be taken together to help avoid any bad interactions. Keep track of your side effects so you can discuss them with your doctor. If you can’t afford your medications, make sure to discuss this with your doctor. You may have other options.
Step 4

Watch and know what you are eating. You don’t have to avoid sugar but you do need to know the carb count and how many you are allowed to have. I would advise when you are first starting out to work with a registered diabetic dietician to help plan your meals and carb allotments. Keep a log of what you are eating and how it affects your blood sugar. Not all diabetics can eat the same things. Eating protein with your carbs will help to balance the effect. You should avoid fatty foods and strive to eat more low-fat foods. Increasing your fiber intake will assist you with good control as well.
Step 5

Exercise! Getting physical activity daily will help to control your blood sugar. Start out slowly and gradually increase the amount of exercise you are doing. Test your blood glucose though before and after any exercise as you don't want to go too low.
Step 6

Finally, seek the support from family friends, or a support group. Having others on your team to root for you and encourage you when you get frustrated will greatly increase your success.

Comments

shenandoah said

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on 5/15/2009 Step 5 (regular exercise) is so important! Exercise will drop your glucose levels very nicely and go a long way toward managing your averages. It's a powerful anti-medicine aproach to managing diabetes (in combination with good diet and blood monitoring).