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A diagnosis of diabetes can be life changing, but it doesn’t have to upend your life. Although the condition is chronic and does require constant care, you can adopt some simple steps to make it easier to manage diabetes. Doing so, will not only lower the risk of diabetes complications, but it will also improve your quality of life.
Here are some simple steps to help get your diabetes under control so that you can lead a healthy and fulfilling life.
Simple Steps For Diabetes Management
Monitor Blood Sugar Levels
Make it a point to check your blood sugar levels every morning as soon as you wake up. Knowing what your blood sugar levels are overnight allows you to regulate it right away, whether with food or insulin. In addition to checking blood sugar levels regularly, it is also advisable to record these measurements in a journal as this helps doctors track your progress and responsiveness to treatment. They can then recommend changes accordingly.
Eat Healthy
This is a no-brainer, but it’s so critical a step to controlling diabetes that we can’t not mention it. Everything you eat affects blood sugar levels, so it’s important that you plan your meals carefully. This includes paying note the glycemic value of foods, so that you can focus on low glycemic foods. At the same time, you should also plan regular meals and snacks, so that blood sugar levels do not fluctuate significantly throughout the day.
Stay Active
In addition to eating healthy, physical exercise helps with weight management, which is important when you suffer from diabetes. Aside from weight loss benefits, exercise is also good for your general health and for the regulation of blood sugar levels. Regular exercise is also known to improve circulation, raise energy levels, improve your mood, lower stress levels, and improve sleep quality. Try to get at least 20 minutes of mild to moderate intensity exercise daily, including both aerobic and resistance training.
Don’t Skip Medications
It can be hard to adhere strictly to treatment plans and medication when you’re feeling low or if you think you don’t need them. However, effective diabetes management depends on strict adherence to your prescribed treatments, whether it includes the use of oral medications, insulin syringes or pumps, and other medications. If you have trouble remembering or tracking your medications and dosage, try to use a pill box or apps with reminders.
Follow A Foot Care Routine
While caring for your feet will not help with the management of blood sugar levels, it’s an essential step to prevent one of the most common diabetes complications. As diabetes impairs blood circulation through the body and can cause nerve damage, especially in the feet, diabetic patients are vulnerable to a variety of foot problems. Reduced sensation in the feet means that injuries, wounds, cuts, and blisters can remain undetected, increasing the risk of ulcers and serious infections. Daily inspection of your feet will help to detect problems before they give rise to more serious complications.
Get Your Sleep
Sleep is often overlooked when it comes to managing diabetes, but there is growing evidence to show that disturbed sleep or sleep disorders can have an adverse impact on glucose metabolism. To improve your sleep quality and duration, make sure to follow a disciplined sleep schedule. You should also avoid exposure to stimulants like bright lights and digital devices for a few hours before bedtime. It would also help to take up activities or practices that promote sleep, such as exercising earlier in the day, meditating, and reducing noise and light in your bedroom.
Control Risk Factors
There are a number of diabetes risk factors that are controllable and tackling these problems can improve blood sugar regulation, also reducing the risk of diabetes complications. This means taking steps to lose or manage body weight, quitting smoking, limiting or avoiding alcohol consumption, and adopting relaxation techniques to lower stress levels.
While taking all of these steps will improve your overall health and make it easier to manage diabetes, they are not a substitute for medical care. Regular health checks and adherence to treatment is essential. However, these simple steps will make it easier to follow treatment guidelines and will improve your quality of life.
