People with type 2 diabetes need to pay attention to and take control of their health every day if they want to have a better quality of life. The good news is that there are many safe ways to manage your condition at home.
Patients can try these strategies:
Take a blood glucose test at home to take control of your blood glucose levels
If you find your blood glucose levels are abnormal, you need to take steps to get them back to normal as soon as possible, so it’s important to check them regularly. Here are some basic tips.
Choose a test site. Most blood glucose meters require a finger prick to test your blood glucose. But some newer devices can take samples from other parts of the body such as the upper arm or thigh.
Ask your doctor when to check your blood glucose, such as before a meal, after exercise, at bedtime, or when you think your blood glucose is low.
Make a plan with your doctor to see what you need to do if your blood glucose level is too high or too low. Also, if your blood glucose level is far out of the normal range, ask your doctor when you should see him or her.
Record the blood glucose measurement readings. You can write them down in a notebook or track the measurements in an app, or you can use the storage feature of your glucose monitor. These measurements can help you understand trends in your blood glucose levels and identify problems, and they can also help your doctor, so take them with you to your next doctor’s appointment.
Control your weight for good health
Got a few extra pounds? If you are overweight, no matter how fat you are, you can bring your blood sugar down if you can lose weight. Even losing 9 or 14 pounds is good for your health.
Loss of weight can:
- lower blood sugar;
- Lower blood pressure;
- Improve cholesterol levels;
- reduce stress on hips, knees, ankles and feet;
- Make for more energy and better breathing.
Consult your doctor before starting a weight loss program. Then, talk to a diabetes specialist or nutritionist to figure out some healthy plans that you can stick with for a lifetime. A healthy diet and regular exercise can help a lot. But if sticking to these habits still doesn’t work, then ask your doctor to see if choosing weight loss medications or surgery would work better.
Good sleep helps improve blood sugar levels
Everyone is plagued by sleep deprivation, but for people with diabetes, it can be a bigger problem: Some studies suggest that lack of sleep may mean poorer blood sugar control. It’s not just about sleep duration; sleep quality can also affect improvements in blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
If you have frequent insomnia or poor sleep, talk to your doctor about ways to improve the quality of your rest. Your doctor can help identify the cause of your insomnia. If the insomnia is caused by a medical problem, your doctor can recommend helpful treatments, such as taking medications for nerve weakness or using a ventilator for sleep apnea.
Patients can also:
- Do relaxation exercises or breathing exercises before bed.
- Exercise regularly, but try to complete the exercise at least 3 hours before bedtime.
- Don’t smoke, drink coffee or alcohol at night.
- Do not smoke, drink coffee or alcohol at night.
If you have insomnia, get up and go do something else outside the bedroom until you feel sleepy and then go back to bed.
Consider using supplements and natural remedies
Do your own homework before trying to use supplements. Some supplements may be helpful in controlling blood sugar, but others can be harmful to people with diabetes. Keep in mind that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements in the same way that it does drugs. Be careful to consider the effects listed on supplement bottles and labels.
The best thing to do is to always talk to your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications and supplements.
There are also many natural remedies you can try to assist in managing your diabetes. These include alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, guided imagery, yoga, hypnosis, and massage. While some of these remedies, such as relaxation techniques, are safe and easy to do at home, some alternative therapies may take a specially trained doctor to do.
Managing diabetes with high-tech tools
From smartphone apps to insulin pumps, there are many gadgets that can help manage diabetes.
For example, people with diabetes who use regular blood glucose meters can use increasingly sophisticated apps to track and analyze trends in blood glucose, as well as download and store data on their computers and then view charts that show how often blood glucose levels are at, above, or below the normal range.
In addition, the “combo tool” allows patients to keep an eye on their blood glucose and to get insulin through their insulin pump, all on one device.
A continuous glucose monitor is a device that attaches to the skin and can measure blood glucose every few minutes for several days. This can help patients find the best way to adjust their diet, exercise, and diabetes medications to achieve optimal control of their diabetes.
Talk to a diabetes specialist or doctor to see which high-tech tools are better for you.