When you're first diagnosed with diabetes you may feel overwhelmed. It can be hard to remember how to best take care of yourself. You know you should always follow your doctor's advice when you find out you're diabetic, and these tips may help you to stay on the right track. Ask your doctor before trying any new program or advice.
1. Test your blood sugar (blood glucose) levels. Your doctor will explain when and how often to do the testing.
2. Always take your diabetes medicine exactly as prescribed.
3. Visit a dietitian who can design a meal plan that's right for you.
4. Be careful to eat the right foods to control your blood sugar.
5. If your test shows you have low blood sugar, treat it quickly with your prescribed diabetes medication.
6. Keep accurate records (like a journal or diary) of all your blood tests, medicines you take, and your daily events. Always have your doctor look over your records.
7. Maintain a weight that is right for you. Your doctor will help you learn how much you should weigh.
8. Ask your doctor if you can exercise, then make sure to get physical activity.
9. If you haven't been very active for awhile, be sure and inform your doctor, then start slowly.
10. Two recommended activities are walking and swimming.
11. Check your feet everyday for any sores, blisters, cuts, red spots or swelling. Tell your doctor immediately about any sores that don't heal.
12. Don't smoke cigarettes, cigars or a pipe. There are many ways to quit.
13. Continue to learn more about diabetes and diabetes self-care.
14. Make sure you have someone to talk to about your diabetes. Ask your family and friends for support. There are even diabetes support groups you can join.
15. You will always have questions about diabetes, but will you remember to ask your doctor about them? Write down any questions and take them with you to your appointments.
16. Get important health tests done regularly. Ask your doctor about the following tests, what they mean and how often you should take them:
* Hemoglobin A1c test
* Blood pressure checks
*Cholesterol and other blood fat tests
*Foot, eye, and kidney exams
17. Don't forget to tell your dentist you have diabetes.
18. Set healthy goals for your life and break them into small steps to help you succeed.
19. Don't forget - you can control your diabetes instead of letting it control you.
20. Watch out for temptation! Stay away from foods or activities that you know can make you sick.
21. Reward yourself for following your doctor's plans and for staying in control of your blood sugar levels. Treat yourself to a new book, time with special friends or a drive in the country.
You can live a good life with diabetes! You are in control!
Recipes For People With Diabetes
You need to take special care of your health, especially if you are diabetic. Here are some special tips you can follow in order to keep track on your diabetes while traveling:
a)Planning ahead:
You deserve to enjoy your trip. Hence, if you want to travel with diabetes, you must plan ahead very carefully. You must have heard many stories related to lost luggage or encountering a natural disaster.
It is true that you cannot avoid these disasters, it is necessary to prepare yourself before you actually leave. This will save you from encountering undue stress. Make sure that you inform your agents about your health condition.
Thereafter, you need to look for specific requirements that are required for a patient with diabetes to take along. This will let you plan all your needs. Any missed connection can easily run even the best holiday trip of yours.
b)Plan to visit your physician:
It would be a wise idea to visit your doctor for a check-up. This should be done several weeks prior to leaving for the trip actually. Try to discuss your case with the diabetes health care team.
Let your health care practitioner decide a meal plan and medicines for you. Ask about certain specific medications you require for the trip. Make sure that all you necessary vaccinations is done at least four weeks prior to your visit. This will let you deal with all possible side effects.
It is very important for you to ask for a special prescription required by you for the trip. The prescription should include insulin and oral medications. Also try to take insulin and record the types of insulin that would be required. You must carry a copy with you 24 x 7.
Remember that some countries may ask you for written documents from your health care practitioner stating that you can may carry these medicines. There would be problems especially in taking along syringes and needles in some countries.
c)Management tips:
Ask your health care practitioner about what should be done if your health gets disturbed while on the trip. It is normal to experience some kind of motion sickness. It is advised to take some liquids, preferably in the form of fluids. You require to test your blood glucose level in every two or four hours.
d)Identification:
You should take identification with you round the clock that describes your condition. This will be of great in case of an emergency. You should get a MedicAlertâ„¢ bracelet or necklace describing that you have diabetes.
e)Travel insurance:
This would be an excellent idea.
f)Pack wisely:
Don't forget any of your medicines and diabetes supplies. Pack them in more than one place. This way you would not face problems in case your luggage gets lost. Take food, water, sun-block, walking shoes and medication for diarrhea and nausea.
Follow the above mentioned tips and you would be able to combat complications related to diabetes that may strike you on the trip.
Both D.L. Shearer & Bertil Hjert are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
D.L. Shearer has sinced written about articles on various topics from Diabetes Treatment. D.L. Shearer is a nonfiction writer. She has published articles online and in print on topics such as health, family and politics. Diabetes is common in her family. To learn more about diabetes and the factors that put you at risk of diabetes, visit. D.L. Shearer's top article generates over 880 views. to your Favourites.
Bertil Hjert has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lose Weight, Health and Acid Reflux. For more Articles, News, Information, Advice, and Resources about DIABETES please visit and. Bertil Hjert's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.
