Diabetes Control Help

Diabetes is a disease with no cure, but it can be managed. To manage your diabetes you will need to learn about the disease. The components of controlling diabetes are diet, exercise, medication and testing. How well your diabetes is controlled depends on the effort you make to control it.

Education

• Learn about your disease and what to expect. Controlling your blood sugar is essential and to help you do that you will need to understand everything about diabetes, how it affects your body, and the possible long term complications. The more you research, the better understanding you will have a about how to take care of your body.

Diet

• Everything you eat raises your blood sugar. Some foods elevate blood sugar more than others. It is important to know what foods to avoid. A basic rule of healthy eating is to not eat anything white. White food is white flour, white sugar, white rice, white potatoes and anything made from them like candy, pasta, cereal or white bread. White foods will necessarily spike your blood sugar and should be avoided. There are several theories about the perfect diabetic diet like high protein, low carbohydrates or high fiber, low fat. Finding what works the best for you is the proper diet to follow. A diet to control your blood sugar is a lifestyle change and one you will follow forever. It is best to follow a diet plan that you can live with so you will stay on it.

Exercise

• Exercise is essential to controlling your blood sugar. You will see the benefits of adding even a 30 minute walk to your daily routine in your blood sugar levels. Find an exercise that you enjoy but make it something you can do each day. Walking is the easiest because you can do it alone without any equipment. Yoga is another beneficial exercise that can be done at home if you are in a cold climate. The important thing is to get your body moving each day to help lower your blood sugar.

Medication

• Take your medication every day as prescribed. It is important to know about your medicine and the proper dosages prescribed for you. Learn what the side effects are. You should know if your medication will cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar attacks). Low blood sugar attacks can impede your ability to function, drive a car or think clearly.

Testing

• The most important tool for controlling your diabetes is your testing meter. Testing supplies are available by prescription and your insurance will assist with the cost. Your doctor will probably order that you test twice a day. This is done by pricking your finger with a lancet and placing a small drop of blood on a test strip in the meter. In the beginning you may want to test more often to check how you are reacting to the foods you are eating.

  Every three months your doctor will order an A1C test. Blood is taken at your doctor's office or lab and sent for testing. A1C test gives an average of what your blood sugar levels are over a three month period. Anything under a score 6 is non diabetic, 7 is good, 8 is fair, anything above means you need to reevaluated your diet plan. With proper care of your diabetes an A1C score of 6.1 is possible and should be your goal.

Warning

• Some diabetic medications may cause hypoglycemia or low blood sugar attacks. When planning your day keep this in mind. Always carry a snack or glucose tablet with you just in case.