Tips to Manage Your Diabetes and Stay Healthy

                                 This article was compiled by Dr. G. M. Siddiqui M.D, 
                                           CEO, Medical Services, Lifeline Healthcare
                                           (Guidelines of American Diabetic Association was followed)
 

Tips to Manage Your Diabetes and Stay Healthy
 

Taking action to manage your diabetes can help you feel good today and stay healthy in the future.

Work with your doctor and other health care team members to make a diabetes care plan that works for you.

Follow these four steps:

Step 1: Learn About Diabetes

Diabetes means that your blood glucose (sugar) is too high. Diabetes is serious because it can damage your heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. But you can learn how to manage it and prevent or delay health problems.

a. Take a class and join a support group about living with diabetes. Check with your health care team, hospital, or area health clinic. 
Contact http://www.lifelinehealthcarebd.org/Contact-Us for enrolment to the next orientation class.

b. Read about diabetes online. Go to 
http://www.lifelinehealthcarebd.org/Diabetes to learn more. 

c. Ask your diabetes health care team how you can learn more. 

Step 2: Know Your Diabetes Numbers

Ask your doctor what diabetes target numbers are best for you. They may be different from the numbers below.

a. HA1C measures your average blood glucose level over the past 2 to 3 months. The HA1C target for many people is below 7.

b. LDL, or bad cholesterol, builds up and clogs your arteries. Ask what your cholesterol numbers should be, and how you could keep it low.

c. High blood pressure makes your heart work too hard. Your blood pressure goal should be below 140/80 unless your doctor helps you set a different goal.
 

Step 3: Manage Your Diabetes

Your diabetes care plan should help you to:

a. Keep track of your Diabetic Numbers, and to explain them for you to understand.

b. Learn how and when to check your own blood glucose. See what makes your blood glucose go up or down and how to keep it in control.

c. Go over the test results with your health care team. Use them to manage your diabetes. 

d. Ask how to prevent low blood glucose.

e. Be active for 30 - 60 minutes on most days of the week. Brisk walking is a good way to be active.

f. Stop Smoking.

g. Eat healthy foods such as:   

     1. Fruits, vegetables, fish, lean meats and poultry, dried peas or beans, lentils, and low-fat or skim milk and cheese.

     2. Whole grain foods such as whole wheat bread and crackers, oatmeal, brown rice, and cereals.

     3. Food prepared with little added fat, oil, salt, or sugar.

     4. Smaller servings of meat, fish, and poultry.

     5. Larger servings of fruits and vegetables.

h. Seek help if you feel down. Talking with a counselor, friend, family member, support group, or a religious leader may help you feel better.

k. Take your medicines even when you feel good. Ask if you need to take low-dose aspirin to prevent a heart attack or stroke.

l. Check your feet every day. Call your health care team if a cut, sore, blister, or bruise on your feet or toes does not begin to go away after 2 days.

m. Brush your teeth and floss every day to prevent problems with your mouth, teeth, or gums.

n. Tell your health care team if your eyesight changes.

o. Tell your doctor if you noticed swelling of legs, especially if you are on upright position for long.

Step 4: Get Regular Care

a. Contact your health care team if you have any questions or problems as you manage your diabetes, medicines, or supplies.

b. Use “My Diabetes Care Record” on the page below to track your diabetes numbers and checkups with your doctor or health care team.

c. Talk to your doctor if you plan to get pregnant, perform Ramadan (religious fasting) etc 

Take action to be healthy and control your diabetes for life.

a. Write down: One or more reasons I have to manage my diabetes.

b. One or more things I will work on over the next 3 months to carry out my diabetes care plan.

c. Keep contact numbers of people who can help me do these things.

d. Set goals you can reach. Break a big goal into small steps. Maybe you could start with a goal to walk half a mile each day. Then increase the distance each week or so until you are walking two or more miles each day. Give yourself a healthy reward for doing well. 

My Diabetes Care Record