Healthy Living with Diabetes

Diabetes is usually a lifelong (chronic) disease in which there is a high level of sugar in the blood that can lead to complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, nerve damage, eye problems, and more. There is no cure for diabetes, but you can be managed with proper care.

If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, you will need to pay special attention to certain aspects of your health and lifestyle. With careful management you can control the condition, rather than the condition controlling you. This will allow you to stay healthy, active and live a full life. Steps to take to live a healthy life with diabetes include:

  • Eat Healthy Balanced Diet. Healthy diet should low in fat, salt and sugar and high in fibre such as whole grains, beans, lean meats, and low-fat dairy , fresh low sweet fruits and non-starchy vegetables. Eat a healthy balanced diet with just enough calories to maintain a healthy weight. It is advisable that you should attend to understand how different foods affect your blood glucose and learn to develop your own suitable meal plan.
  • Get Physical Active. Exercise or physical activity is important, whether you have diabetes or not. It has many benefits for your physical, psychological and emotional health. Both aerobic and strengthening exercises can reduce blood sugar and also improve insulin resistance. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
  • Maintain Healthy Weight. Aim for a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 25. If you are overweight or obese, you need to lose weight. This will help control your blood glucose level, as well as your blood pressure and cholesterol. Even modest weight loss of 5-10 % of body weight can help make a difference in your overall health.
  • Take Medications. Take any prescribed medications as directed, following your doctor’s instructions as far as when to take them and the proper dosage. It is important to understand how the medication you are taking works, how to properly take the medication and what side effects it may have. Knowing these things will make it easier for you to determine if your medication is working properly.
  • Monitor Blood Sugar Level. Self-monitoring of blood sugar level using glucose meter is considered as an effective tool for the management of diabetes, especially for those who require insulin treatment. It can show how diet , physical activity and medication impact on your blood sugar levels. Based on your numbers of blood sugar levels, you may need to make changes to your meals, activity, or medicines to keep your blood sugar level in the right target range.
  • Manage ABCs. Knowing, monitoring, and controlling your ABCs is essential to diabetes care. By managing your A (A1C), B (Blood Pressure), and C (Cholesterol), you can stay healthy, achieve your goals, and live well with diabetes.
  • Regular Doctor Appointments. Maintain all your doctor appointments, and when you are there, make sure you discuss any questions or concerns you may have with a health care professional. Bring a family member with you so they can help you keep track of important instructions the doctor may give you. Regular check-ups once every three months are an important part of managing your diabetes.
  • Foot Care. When you have diabetes, proper foot care is very important. Poor foot care may lead to amputation of a foot or leg. Inspect your feet every day, and seek care early if you do get a foot injury. Make sure your health care provider checks your feet at least once a year – more often if you have foot problems.
  • Quit Smoking. Smoking is bad for everyone, and it’s especially risky if you have diabetes. In order to minimize your chances of developing diabetes or diabetic complications, you need to quit smoking. Smoking can bring on illness associated with diabetes earlier, causing disability and death.
  • Stress Management. When you’re under stress, your body fights back by producing extra energy in the form of glucose, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise as well as your blood pressure. Real health problems can result for people with diabetes. By managing your stress in healthy ways, you not only prevent some diabetes complications but also improve your mental and emotional well-being.