Manage your diabetes

Diabetes is on the rise, yet most cases are preventable with healthy lifestyle changes. Some can even be reversed. Taking steps to prevent and control diabetes doesn’t mean living in deprivation. While eating right is important, you don’t have to give up sweets entirely or resign yourself to a lifetime of bland “health food”. With these tips, you can still enjoy your favorite foods and take pleasure from your meals without feeling hungry or deprived. Here are some steps to Manage your diabetes.

Many people avoid the long-term problems of diabetes by taking good care of themselves. Work with your health care team to reach your ABC target. Use this self-care plan.

• Follow your diabetes meal plan. If you do not have one, ask your health care team to help you develop a meal plan.
  • Eat healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, fish, lean meats, chicken or turkey without the skin, dry peas or beans, whole grains, and low-fat or skim milk and cheese.
  • Keep fish and lean meat and poultry portions to about 3 ounces (or the size of a deck of cards). Bake, broil, or grill it.
  • Eat foods that have less fat and salt.
  • Eat foods with more fiber such as whole grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice, or pasta.
• Get 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week. Brisk walking is a great way to move more.
• Stay at a healthy weight by using your meal plan and moving more.
• Ask for help if you feel down. A mental health counselor, support group, member of the clergy, friend, or family member who will listen to your concerns may help you feel better.
• Learn to cope with stress. Stress can raise your blood glucose. While it is hard to remove stress from your life, you can learn to handle it. NDEP’s Diabetes HealthSense provides online access to resources that support people with diabetes in making changes to live well.
• Stop smoking. Ask for help to quit. Call 1-800-QUITNOW (1-800-784-8669)
• Take medicines even when you feel good. Ask your doctor if you need aspirin to prevent a heart attack or stroke. Tell your doctor if you cannot afford your medicines or if you have any side effects.
• Check your feet every day for cuts, blisters, red spots, and swelling. Call your health care team right away about any sores that do not go away.
• Brush your teeth and floss every day to avoid problems with your mouth, teeth, or gums
• Check your blood glucose. You may want to test it one or more times a day. Use the card at the back of this booklet to keep a record of your blood glucose numbers. Be sure to show it to your health care team.
• Check your blood pressure  if your doctor advises.
• Report any changes in your eyesight to your health care team.

Get routine care.

See your health care team at least twice a year to find and treat any problems early.

At each visit be sure you have a:

• blood pressure check
• foot check
• weight check
• review of your self-care plan shown in Step 3

Two times each year have an:

• A1C test - it may be checked more often if it is over 7

Once each year be sure you have a:

• cholesterol test
• triglyceride (try-GLISS-er-ide) test – a type of blood fat
• complete foot exam
• dental exam to check teeth and gums – tell your dentist you have diabetes
• dilated eye exam to check for eye problems
• flu shot
• urine and a blood test to check for kidney problems

At least once get a:

• pneumonia (nu-mo-nya) shot
• hepatitis B shot

Ask your health care team about these and other tests you may need. Ask what yours results mean.

Write down the date and time of your next visit.

Use the card at the back of this booklet to keep a record of your diabetes care.

If you have Medicare, ask your health care team if Medicare will cover some o the costs for

• • learning about healthy eating and diabetes self-care
  • special shoes, if you need them
  • medical supplies
  • diabetes medicines