4 things people with diabetes need to do every day to lower their blood sugar:
- Eat healthy foods.
- Eat healthy foods.
- Exercise regularly.
- Take your diabetes medicine.
- Take your diabetes medication.
- Measure your blood sugar.
People with diabetes should try to keep their blood glucose levels similar to those of people without diabetes. This may not apply to all patients. Consult your doctor to find out your appropriate range of blood glucose.
People with diabetes will get a lot of help to get their blood sugar up to standard from their health care team, which includes doctors, nurses, and dietitians.
Go to the appointment with a family member or friend and ask as many questions as possible. Make sure you understand all the information you need to know about managing your diabetes before you leave.
Eat healthy foods
The foods in your diabetes diet plan are good for everyone. Try to choose foods that are low in fat, salt, sugar, and fiber, such as beans, fruits, vegetables, and grains.
The right diet has the following benefits.
- Achieving and maintaining a weight that is good for your health.
- Keeping your blood sugar in a good range.
- Prevent heart and blood vessel disease.
Ask your doctor to recommend an appropriate dietitian who can help develop a diet plan. The diet plan includes foods that the patient and family enjoy and are beneficial.
For patients on insulin
- Inject yourself with insulin.
- Eat equal amounts of food at approximately the same time each day.
- Do not skip any meal, especially if you have given yourself insulin, or your blood glucose level may be too low.
For those who are not on insulin
- Follow the diet plan.
- Do not skip any meal, especially after taking diabetes medications, or your blood glucose levels may be too low.
- Omitting one meal may lead to eating more at the next meal. It is much better to eat small, multiple meals a day than to eat one or two large meals.
Exercise regularly
Being active every day has benefits for everyone. The following workouts are all good.
- Walking.
- Walking.
- Swim.
- Dancing.
- Riding a bike.
- Sports.
Cleaning the house or tidying up the garden is also good exercise.
Exercise is especially important for people with diabetes because it has the following benefits.
Consult your doctor before you start exercising. Some exercises, such as weight lifting, may not be safe for people with combined high blood pressure or eye problems. Your doctor or nurse will help find a safe way to exercise.
Exercise at least 3 times a week.
Exercise at least 3 times a week for 30 to 45 minutes each time. If you haven’t exercised for a while, take it easy and start with 5 to 10 minutes, then slowly increase the length.
If you haven’t eaten in more than an hour or your blood sugar level is below 100-120 mg/dL, eat an apple or drink a glass of milk before your workout.
Bring a snack with you to your workout to prevent your blood sugar from dropping. Be sure to carry a label or card that says you have diabetes.
For people on insulin
- Exercise after eating, not before.
- Measure blood glucose before, during, and after exercise. Do not exercise when blood glucose is above 240 mg/dL.
- Do not exercise before going to bed, as this may lead to nighttime hypoglycemia.
For those not on insulin
- Consult your doctor before starting an exercise program.
- If taking diabetes medication, measure blood glucose before and after exercise, preferably no less than 70 mg/dL and no more than 240 mg/dL.
Take your diabetes medication daily
Insulin and the oral medications and injections used to treat diabetes can all lower blood glucose levels. Injectable medications include the following.
- Dulaglutide (Dulaglutide).
- Exenatide.
- Exenatide long-acting extended-release dosage form.
- Liraglutide.
- Pramlintide (Pramlintide).
- Semaglutide (triglutide).
How to inject insulin
For those who need to apply insulin
Insulin injections are needed for patients whose bodies have stopped producing insulin or who do not produce enough insulin. Insulin is needed in people with insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1 diabetes) and many people with type 2 diabetes.
Insulin cannot be given by mouth. Patients need to inject insulin for themselves every day. Some patients take 1 injection a day; some patients take 2 or more injections a day, even if they are sick, and do not skip each injection.
Insulin is given with a needle. Your doctor will tell you what kind of insulin to use, how much to give, and when to give it. Consult your doctor before starting insulin therapy, changing the type of insulin you use, or changing the dose. Your doctor or diabetes educator will advise you on how to inject insulin with a needle and the most appropriate body parts to inject insulin into. For people with shaky hands or poor vision, ask someone else to help with the injection.
The body parts that are suitable for insulin injections are:
- Lateral upper arm.
- Around the waist or buttocks.
- Lateral thighs.
Do not inject insulin in areas with scarring or stretch marks.
Have your doctor or nurse check to see if the skin is normal at the site where insulin was injected.
Patients may be a little afraid to inject themselves at first, but most patients will find that insulin injections are not as painful as they thought. Insulin needles are small and sharp and do not penetrate deeply into the skin. Always use your own needle at all times and do not share needles with others.
Your doctor or diabetes educator will tell you how to safely dispose of used needles.
Check with your doctor about how often you take your medication
Have some extra insulin on hand in case you accidentally break the insulin you are using. Do not store insulin in a place that is too cold or too hot, such as a refrigerator or storage box, and be careful to keep it away from light. Too much heat, too much cold, or bright light can damage insulin.
For people whose bodies can produce insulin but cannot lower their blood sugar levels, they may need to take diabetes medications or other injections. These medications are only effective for people who can produce their own insulin. Some medications need to be applied only once a day, while others are more frequent. Talk to your doctor about how often you should take your medication.
Diabetes medications are safe and easy to use. Be sure to tell your doctor if the medication makes you feel sick or if you have any other problems.
Still follow your diet and exercise plan with your medications
Remember that you still need to follow your established diet plan and exercise regularly to help lower your blood sugar.
Sometimes, people taking diabetes medications may also need to take insulin for a period of time. This is more common in people with severe disease, those who need to be seen in the hospital, and those who are pregnant. If diabetes medications no longer lower blood sugar, insulin may also be needed.
People who have lost weight may be able to stop taking their diabetes medications and lose just a little weight to help lower their blood sugar levels.
For patients who don’t take insulin or take diabetes medications
Everyone with diabetes needs to follow their doctor’s advice about diet and exercise.
Check your blood glucose levels every day
You need to know how to manage your diabetes and know if your blood glucose levels have decreased. The best way to know your blood sugar is to check it. If your blood sugar is too high or too low, your doctor may need to change your diet, exercise, or medication plan.
Some patients need to check their blood glucose once a day, and some need to check it 3 to 4 times a day. Your doctor may ask to check your blood glucose before meals, at bedtime, or even in the early morning. Talk to your doctor about how often and when you should check your blood glucose.
How do I check my blood glucose?
How do I check my blood glucose?
How do you check your blood sugar?
A small needle called a blood prick is needed, as well as special blood test strips in a bottle. Your doctor or diabetes educator will tell you how to test your blood. Here are the basic steps.
- Take a drop of blood by pricking your finger or other part of your body with a blood prick needle, depending on the testing device.
- Place a drop of blood on the end of the test strip.
- Place the test strip in the blood glucose meter and the meter will show the blood glucose value, for example, 128 mg/dL appears.
- The prick needle may be somewhat painful when sticking your finger, like poking your finger with a large-headed needle. The prick needle should only be used once. Use caution when handling a used prick needle and ask your doctor or nurse how to do this safely.
Puncture needles, test strips, and blood glucose meters are available from pharmacies. Ask your doctor or diabetes educator what type should be purchased. Bring the purchased blood glucose test item with you to your appointment so that your healthcare provider can advise you on how to use this device properly.
Other tests for diabetes
Urinal fluid testing
Ketone bodies in the urine or blood may need to be checked when the patient feels unwell or when the blood glucose exceeds 240 mg/dL before a meal. When there is not enough insulin in the blood, the body produces ketone bodies, which can make the condition worse.
Test strips to check urine for ketones can be purchased at the pharmacy. In addition, some blood glucose meters can be used to check for the presence of ketone bodies with special test strips. Your doctor or diabetes educator will show you how to properly use such testing devices.
If ketones are found on the test, seek immediate medical attention, which indicates possible ketoacidosis. If left untreated, this can lead to death.
Signs of ketoacidosis include:
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Sweet smell in the breath
Ketoacidosis is more likely to occur in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Glycosylated hemoglobin test
This test shows the average blood glucose level over the past 3 months and shows how much sugar is attached to the red blood cells. The doctor performs this test to clarify blood glucose levels most of the time.
The doctor or nurse takes a blood sample for this test. The test is done in the laboratory, which sends the results to the doctor.
Visit your doctor every 3 months to check your glycated hemoglobin level.
Keep daily records
Record your blood glucose test results daily. You may also want to record what you eat, how you feel, and what you do for exercise.
By keeping a daily record of your blood and urine test results, you can see how well you are treating your diabetes. Show the records to your doctor, who can use them to assess whether you need to change your insulin regimen, diabetes medication regimen, or diet plan. If you don’t know what the test results mean, ask your doctor or nurse.
The daily record includes the following.
- Whether blood glucose levels are low.
- Whether you are eating more or less than usual.
- Whether you feel sick or tired.
- What kind of exercise was performed and how long it lasted.