Diabetes is a serious disease and thereby following your diabetes treatment plan takes round-the-clock commitment. But all your efforts are worthwhile. Careful diabetes care can reduce your risk of serious and becoming complicated such as life-threatening complications.
Here are 10 ways to take an active role in diabetes care plan and enjoy a healthier future.
- Make a commitment to managing your diabetes by daily routine
Members of your diabetes care team — family doctor or primary care provider and dietician can help you to learn the basics of diabetes care and offering support along the way. But it’s up to you to manage your condition by making a commitment.
Make healthy eating by having choice of vegetables and fruits and physical activity as a part of your daily routine. Maintain a healthy weight by doing simple exercises.
Monitor your blood sugar, and follow your doctor’s instructions for managing your blood sugar level and have a routine check-up with your care provider. Take your medications as directed by your doctor or physician. Ask your diabetes treatment team for help whenever you need it.
- Don’t smoke
Smoking increases your risk of type 2 diabetes and the risk of various diabetes complications that includes:
- Reduced blood flow in the legs and feet and lower parts of the body, which can lead to infections, ulcers and possible removal of a body part by surgery (amputation)
- Heart disease and cardiovascular disorders
- Stroke and sudden damage to brain
- Eye disease, which can lead to blindness permanently or night blindness
- Nerve damage
- Kidney disorders or acute kidney failure
- Premature death
Talk to your doctor and rehabilitation centres about ways to help you stop smoking and quit smoking to follow diabetes care and using other types of tobacco.
- Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control
Like diabetes, along with high blood pressure and cholesterol can damage your blood vessels. High cholesterol is often a concern, since the damage is often more worse and rapid when you have diabetes too. When these conditions team up, they can lead to a sudden heart attack or stroke or other life-threatening conditions.
Eating a healthy, reduced-fat diet and exercising regularly like jogging or swimming is a part of diabetic care and can go a long way toward controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol. Your doctor may also recommend you to take prescribed medicines and drugs if any.
- Schedule regular eye exams
Schedule regular diabetes check-ups a year and blood sugar test, in addition to your yearly physical exams and routine eye exams as a diabetic care.
During the exams, your doctor will ask about your nutrition and activity level and look for any diabetes-related complications if you have any like signs of kidney damage, nerve damage, stroke and heart disease — as well as they will do screening for other medical problems.
Your eye care specialist will check for signs of retinal damage, eye vision problems, cataracts and glaucoma.
- Pay attention to your feet
High blood sugar can reduce blood flow and damage the nerves in your feet. Left untreated, cuts and blisters can lead to serious infections and swelling. Diabetes can lead to pain, foot ulcer, tingling or loss of sensation in your feet. So learn all the diabetes treatment & care and follow. Keep washing your feet in Luke warm water and keep moisturizing your feet with any lotion or petroleum jelly.