Tips for Managing Diabetes

Many people feel overwhelmed after being diagnosed with diabetes. Keeping a positive attitude and a watchful, yet flexible, approach to your health care are tools that will allow you to live a happy and fulfilling life while managing your disease.

Review These Diabetes Management Tips

While you work to create and maintain a healthy lifestyle that supports your doctor’s orders, consider these tips for living with your diabetes and try to incorporate them into your routine.

• Feed yourself a healthy, balanced diet every day. Consult your dietitian to establish guidelines for your diet plan. Focus on sticking to this diet every day. It is essential that you maintain healthy eating habits most of the time.
• Move! A typical recommendation for an exercise routine is to do something physical for at least 20 to 40 minutes per session, three to four days per week. Incorporating exercise into your daily life can help decrease the potential for complications such as heart disease and can help you maintain a healthy weight. Consult your doctor to determine if you have any limitations and to obtain advice on what type of exercise might be best for you.
• Limit alcohol. If you plan to drink, keep it to one drink per day if you are a woman and two if you are a man. Make sure alcohol is consumed with food and include the associated calories and dietary impact in your eating plan for the day.
• Get your rest. Sleep is an important factor in controlling blood sugar. Maintain a regular sleep schedule as much as possible.
• Don’t smoke. This one is self-explanatory. Smoking is bad for everyone, and when you are managing diabetes, added stress on the body caused by smoking is not going to make your job any easier.
• Take care of your feet and skin. Foot problems are a common complication of diabetes, so it’s important that you take care of your feet. Check them regularly for signs of disease: calluses, skin problems, ulcers, drainage or redness are all signs that something more serious is going on. Consult your doctor immediately if you suspect any problems with your feet.
• Reduce stress. Emotional or mental stress from your job, relationships, financial issues or other life situations can impact your health and make it more difficult to manage your diabetes. Consider consulting a therapist or attending a stress-management training session to learn healthy ways to control your stress.
• Sex is important. If you experience problems with sex, this may be a complication of your diabetes. Don’t put off discussing sexual problems with your doctor.
• Stay educated about your condition. The more you know about your condition, the better you can manage it. Stay up to date on news about diabetes and learn all you can about the disease by reading books, attending workshops or joining support groups. Ask your doctor for recommendations of educational materials.

These are all recommendations that can be implemented into your daily routine easily. It may be true that diabetes requires a bit more self-care and attention to lifestyle and diet than an average person may spend, but it will be worth your effort long-term. Avoiding complications and feeling up-to-par physically will allow you to live a full and long life.

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