Controlling Diabetes
Controlling Diabetes
You can control diabetes by:
- Eating right
- Exercising
- Monitoring your blood sugar level
- Taking prescribed medications
- Learning about diabetes
Your dietitian or diabetes educator will explain to you how you can plan your meals and answer any questions you may have. The three goals of eating right are:
- Controlling your weight
- Keeping the level of blood-sugar at a normal level
- Reducing fat in the body
A healthy diet may include changing what you eat, how much you eat, and how often you eat. However, you may be surprised by how many healthy and tasty food options you have. Exercise helps diabetic patients in many ways. It lowers glucose levels, helps weightloss, and maintains a healthy heart and healthy circulation. In addition, exercising helps relieve stress and strengthens muscles. Your healthcare team will discuss your exercise plan with you. Always check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program. Blood sugar testing is important in order to find out if your blood sugar level is where it should be. If your blood sugar is too low or too high, you may need a change in your diabetes medication, diet, or exercise plan. If a change is needed, your doctor or diabetic care team will give you instructions on what you should do.
Your blood sugar level is determined by testing a small drop of blood obtained from one of your fingers. This drop of blood is obtained by sticking your finger with a lancet. Blood sugar is usually checked 1 to 4 times each day. This can be done at home. Most diabetics become very competent at checking their own blood sugar. Your diabetes educator will teach you how to test your blood sugar correctly and will help you determine the times of day to do the tests. He or she will also teach you how to make changes in diabetes medication, diet, or exercise to help control your blood sugar.
The educator will also review your blood sugar records and make any necessary changes in your therapy. In cases of very high blood sugar levels that do not respond to diet and exercise plans, medications may be needed. You doctor will tell you if you need medications or insulin. If insulin is needed, it can only be injected. Insulin is needed for all patients with Type 1 diabetes and for some patients with Type 2 diabetes. Blood sugar levels are very important to determine whether diabetes is controlled at the specific time the blood test is done. There is also another blood test known as Hemoglobin A1C. This blood test determines how well sugar has been controlled over the previous 3 to 4 months. A normal level in non-diabetic patients is usually 5% or less. Diabetics should try to maintain their Hemoglobin A1C at less than 6% as long as they dont have symptoms of hypoglycemia. A 6% level is equivalent to an average blood sugar of 135 mg/dL. The lower the Hemoglobin A1C is, the less the chances of having complications from diabetes.
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