Managing Diabetes: Follow These 3 Steps
Diabetes is a disease that affects nearly 40 million Americans of all ages and backgrounds. It’s a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy.
Your body breaks down most of the food you eat into sugar (glucose) and releases it into your bloodstream. Diabetes occurs when too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, that can damage your eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart, causing serious health problems.
There is no cure for diabetes yet, but during November, which is National Diabetes Month, it’s important to remind ourselves of how unfortunately common the condition has become and the impact it can have. The focus of this year’s observance is on managing diabetes, so we compiled this advice from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to help.
Manage diabetes as early as possible.
Research has shown that taking action soon after being diagnosed can help prevent diabetes-related health problems. So if you find out you have diabetes, it’s important to take immediate steps to improve your health.
Talk with your primary care provider about creating a diabetes care plan that can help you manage your A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol. If you find out your child has diabetes, work with their pediatrician to set specific goals to improve their overall health and well-being.
Build your diabetes health care team.
Like just about everything else, managing your diabetes is easier with support. That’s why it’s important to have and build a smart, supportive health care team. Having a team of health care professionals can make sure you get a broader range of guidance and tailor your care for your specific needs.
Besides a primary care provider, your health care team might include a nutritionist, certified diabetes educator, and others. So be sure to talk to your primary care provider about what other health care professionals to consult and collaborate with about your diabetes management.
Make physical activity and healthy eating part of your daily routine.
Physical activity and healthy eating are two of the very best ways to keep your diabetes in check. And neither has to be involved or complicated. They just require consistency.
Set a goal and try to be active most days of the week, even if that means doing something simple as walking. It helps to follow a diabetes meal plan, too. That means choosing fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, tofu, beans, seeds, and non-fat or low-fat milk and cheese. Consider joining a support group that teaches techniques for managing stress and ask for help if you feel down, sad, or overwhelmed. And make sure you’re getting enough rest. Sleeping for 7 to 8 hours each night can greatly help improve your mood and energy level.
As a chronic disease, diabetes takes continual monitoring and care. But if you start managing it early, take the good advice of your health care team, and make some simple lifestyle changes, it’s something you and millions of people with diabetes can manage while living your life to the absolute fullest.
For more information about Mount Carmel's Diabetes Self-Management Program, call 614-546-4582 or visit our webpage.
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