People with diabetes can do the things they love to do. You can regain the joy of living simply by coping with your disease in the right way, as described below.
Learn more
Consult and learn as much as you can about:
- How to adjust to take better care of yourself;
- therapies needed.
First consult your doctor. They can help contact the following specialists with questions:
- Diabetes educators;
- Nutritionists;
- Other specialists.
Talk to friends and family members of people with diabetes, and also join support groups to talk to other patients. The more information you know, the better you can make decisions.
Use the right type of care
Talk to your doctor to develop a treatment plan that works for you, which may include the following.
Medications
The need for medication depends on:
- symptoms;
- Comorbidities;
- Glucose levels.
Lifestyle changes
Make the following changes and you will see improvement:
- Improve your diet;
- Lose weight;
- Increase exercise.
Monitoring blood glucose
Physicians will advise how to monitor blood sugar and how to avoid hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.
Monitor your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol
Diabetes is prone to complications that can put your eyes, nerves, heart, teeth, and other parts of your body at risk. This is why you need to monitor the “ABCs” of diabetes.
- “A” stands for glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), which reflects the average blood glucose over the past 2 to 3 months. Try to keep your blood glucose level around 7% or lower, but not at risk of hypoglycemia.
- “B” stands for blood pressure. If you have diabetes, you are at an increased risk of developing high blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to other serious complications. Have your blood pressure measured 2 to 4 times a year.
- “C” stands for blood pressure.
- “C” stands for cholesterol. People with diabetes also have an increased risk of high cholesterol, which can lead to heart disease and stroke. Get your cholesterol tested at least once a year.
Take action to manage yourself
A healthy lifestyle includes:
- Consulting your doctor 2 to 4 times a year;
- Eating a balanced diet;
- Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day;
- Progressively achieve and maintain a healthy weight;
- consult your dentist at least 2 times a year;
- Quit smoking;
- Get annual eye and foot exams;
- Get vaccinated every year.
Preventing nerve injury complications
Complications can be prevented by managing your diabetes with diet, medications, exercise, and regular checkups.
It is important to know the warning signs of some common complications.
Nerve damage, called diabetic neuropathy, can affect the feet and legs and may present with the following symptoms:
- Numbness or tingling;
- Burning sensation;
- slow healing of wounds or ulcers;
- Erectile dysfunction or vaginal dryness.
Preventing complications of diabetic retinopathy
Ocular lesions called diabetic retinopathy can occur with damage to the retinal capillaries. The retina is the inner layer of tissue in the eye. You should consult your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following abnormalities:
- Blurred vision;
- Pain or pressure in the eye;
- Dark spots in front of the eyes;
- Sudden blindness.
Preventing complications of diabetic nephropathy
Kidney damage, called diabetic nephropathy, is also a complication of diabetes that may require dialysis or a kidney transplant. To rule out such problems, your doctor will check your patient’s blood pressure several times a year and check your urine for protein (which your doctor may call microalbumin) at least once a year.
Preventing complications such as heart disease and stroke
If you have diabetes, you are also at increased risk for heart disease and stroke. The risk is greater if you have:
- Smoking;
- obesity;
- Hypertension;
- A family history of heart disease.
Seek help from your medical team
If complications are identified early, the chances of successfully managing the disease are greatly increased. When in any doubt, contact your doctor immediately. It may be as simple as making a few changes to your lifestyle or adjusting your medications.
Diabetes doctors are always there to help. Their goal is the same as the patient’s: to get the patient and family to do the things they want to do together.