Day-to-Day Control of Diabetes

11/19/08 Living Well

In the fight against diabetes, it’s the simple day-to-day lifestyle choices that can have the greatest impact on overall health.

Knowing where to start or where to improve can be a challenge. Here are some suggestions from the Mayo Clinic for places to start. Use this information to have a frank discussion with your doctor or diabetes specialist about ways to change your life and improve your health.

Daily Checklist:
These basic therapy ideas are things you can do every day to better manage your diabetes:

• Make healthy eating and physical activity a priority. Plan meals and work with a nutritionist to learn as much as you can about healthy food choices for a diabetic diet. Schedule in at least 30-minutes a day for exercise.
• Wear a medical alert ID bracelet or necklace. Carry a medical alert card with you in your wallet or purse. Add I.C.E. (in case of emergency) contacts to your cell phone.
• Wash and examine your feet daily. Keep them moisturized. Look for blisters, cuts, sores, redness, or swelling. If you have a foot problem that doesn’t start healing after a few days, visit your doctor.
• Test your blood glucose levels regularly. Use a convenient and accurate meter that fits your needs to stay on top of your blood glucose levels.
• Find ways to relieve stress. Stress can cause the body to release hormones that interfere with insulin. Make sure you get plenty of sleep as a step toward reducing stress. Also, try learning relaxation techniques.
• If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so wisely. Alcohol can have a significant effect on blood glucose levels. Drink in moderation and try to drink only with meals.
• Quit smoking and stop using other types of tobacco. Smoking increases the risk of diabetes complications like heart and kidney disease, stroke, and nerve damage. Talk to your doctor for the best plan to help you stop smoking.
• Watch your mouth because diabetes can increase your risk of gum disease and infections. Brush you teeth at least twice a day and floss.

Monthly and Yearly Checklist:

• Schedule regular eye exams. This is the best way to head off diabetes complications like retinal damage, cataracts, and glaucoma.
• Keep up with your annual physical. Regular diabetes checkups do not replace your annual physical. In your physical your doctor can check your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Maintaining healthy levels of blood lipids, or cholesterol, is an important part of preventing diabetes complications as well.
• Get a flu shot every year and stay on top of your tetanus shots; you should have a tetanus booster every 10 years. High blood glucose levels can interfere with your immune system’s efficiency.
• Schedule dentist appointments every six months. If you experience any dental problems, call your dentist.

With these simple checklists, you can turn healthy daily, monthly, and yearly habits into lifelong successful diabetes management.

Source:
Mayo Clinic, Type 1 Diabetes