If you have Type 1, Type 2, gestational or pre-diabetes, work closely with your doctor and nutritionist or certified diabetes counselor. The better you manage your condition, the less likely you are to develop diabetes-related complications including:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Circulation problems
- Kidney disease
- Eye disease or blindness
- Nerve damage
- Amputations
Here are some other ways you can manage your diabetes:
- Eat balanced meals. Healthy, nutritious eating benefits everyone - not just people with diabetes. You need a balance of whole grains, dairy products, fruits, vegetables and lean meats, and lower fat and sugar. A registered dietician and or certified diabetes educator can help you understand portions and how to schedule your meals, medication and activities to keep your blood sugar within a normal range. Eating small, frequent meals throughout the day instead of a few larger ones can also help keep your blood sugar from getting too high or too low.
- Get your muscles in motion. When you exercise, you’re actually helping your body to use insulin better – a healthful benefit for anyone. If you have diabetes, it’s important to check your blood sugar level before and after you exercise so that it doesn’t drop too low. Time your exercise to fit with your meals and medication. Your doctor should advise you on a regimen that best fits your needs.
- Learn to manage stress. For someone with diabetes, stress from too much exercise, sickness or injury can raise blood sugar levels. Mental or emotional stress can make blood sugar go too high or too low. All these stressors can make diabetes difficult to manage. Getting enough rest, eating well and staying physically active can help you de-stress. So can a good massage, deep breathing or meditation.
- Monitor your blood sugar level. You can’t control your blood sugar level unless you know what it is. Someone with diabetes will need to test several times a day. This is done with a blood glucose meter. Your doctor should advise you on what a healthy blood sugar level should be for your situation.
- Get regular checkups. Talk to your doctor about your risks for developing diabetes and keep your appointments for routine exams as he/she advises. If you have diabetes, your doctor can tell you about other tests you might need including A1C hemoglobin tests, and eye and foot exams.
- Consider hormonal changes. Women should know that menstrual cycles, pregnancy and contraceptive use like IUD’s and birth control pills can affect blood sugar levels and management. Again, your doctor is key to helping you understand how to manage your diabetes during hormonal shifts.
Visit for more information on available health care programs to help you better manage diabetes.
Additional Resources
The American Diabetes Association -
The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NIDC), part of the National Institutes of Health -
Diabetes Care and Education Dietetic Practice Group, a division of the American Dietetic Association
Sources
Article“Type 1 Diabetes”by Jim Scott for Consumer Health Interactive, reviewed by Bruce Biller, M.D., director of the Harvard Business School Health Services and a board-certified internist with subspecialty training in endocrinology -
National Library of Medicine –
University of Pennsylvania -
American Diabetes Association –