About diabetes
Managing your diabetes
Along with taking insulin and other prescribed medications, there are many things you can do to help manage your diabetes on a daily basis.
Here are some suggestions to help maintain good blood glucose control.
- Plan ahead. If you're going on a trip, make sure to call your prescriptions in ahead of time. And if you're on insulin therapy, check with your healthcare provider to see if a prefilled insulin pen may be a good choice for you.
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Make healthy food choices. Understanding portion sizes and learning the best times to eat are central to managing diabetes. Finding healthy choices when you eat out can be especially tricky. Here are some tips to help you:,
- Choose wisely. Menus offer lots of choices, so consider how much carbohydrate, fat, salt and calories are in the foods you choose.
- Save some for later. Take your time when you're eating and save a portion to take home as leftovers. Or ask the restaurant if you can order a half portion so you won't need to worry about overeating.
- Check often and keep track. Checking your blood glucose levels often and writing them down in a diary can help aid in managing your diabetes. When you track your blood glucose levels, you'll have an idea of how well your therapy is working for you or if any patterns develop in your blood glucose levels. Checking also means regularly checking other signs of your overall health, including your weight and your blood pressure., ,
- Keep moving. Staying active helps maintain overall fitness, which makes a difference. Cleaning your house, walking around the block, and even planting flowers keep you active and can be considered good exercise. Ask your healthcare provider for help developing an activity and exercise plan that's right for you.,
- Reduce your risks. An important part of managing your diabetes involves self-care: learning to know when you need help and then seeking it from your diabetes care team., ,
- Enjoy yourself. Remember, stress can make blood glucose levels rise, and staying active can help keep them lower. You may need to change some of your daily habits to aid in managing your diabetes. Learn to spend as much time as you can doing the things you enjoy, such as gardening, watching a good movie or walking your dog. , ,
