A diagnosis of diabetes must be taken seriously and may necessitate a change to your lifestyle like never before. The day-to-day reality of managing your health with this new diagnosis can take some time to get used to, so here we’re going to look at four tips to help you better manage diabetes.
Track your health
As a chronic health condition, diabetes affects those who are living with it over the long term, and as such, health should be considered in the long term. For instance, there is the “ABCs” rule, which involves having your A1C test carried out every three months to test your average blood sugar level, having your blood pressure taken, and knowing your cholesterol levels. Testing these on a regular basis with your doctor can help you ensure that you’re not making any dietary changes that could put you at risk.
The importance of eating right
The major impact of diabetes is that your body is not able to produce or use insulin appropriately, which can be dangerous if blood sugar levels get too low or too high. There are a range of ways that you can manage it through your lifestyle, but eating the right foods can make a big difference. There are a host of great foods for controlling diabetes, such as fatty fish, leafy greens, eggs, turmeric, and nuts. Opting for healthy sources of carbohydrates and eating less salt and less red or processed meat can be vital, too.
The role of hypoglycaemia
Hypoglycaemia, also known as low blood sugar, can affect anyone. However, people with diabetes are more likely to be affected by it, and the effects of severe hypoglycemia can be highly dangerous. Learning how to recognise the symptoms of hypoglycaemia, and having blood sugar level tests available to confirm can ensure that you are able to act on it as quickly as possible, whether the right course of action is to gradually increase your blood sugar by having a sugary snack, or whether you should get in touch with the emergency services. Type-1 diabetics, in particular, are more prone to hypoglycaemia and may want to consider testing their blood sugar levels frequently, regardless of symptoms.
Be mindful of patterns
Even for those who are living with the same type of diabetes, the ways that it manifests and affects your daily living can be different from person to person. To that end, it’s a good idea to keep a daily log that tracks any symptoms you feel, your insulin levels, as well as the factors that might affect it, including medications, food, physical activity, any illness, as well as stress levels. This can help you get a better idea of your own personal habits and what effects they might have on your experience of the condition.
While a diabetes diagnosis may be life-changing, it’s still perfectly possible for you to enjoy a long, happy, and healthy life with it. You just might have to do a little more than the average person to ensure it.