The Dos and Don'ts of Diabetes Care
If you recently found out you have diabetes, these tips will help you get a handle on caring for yourself.
Know the basics. It will help you a lot to have a firm grasp on what causes diabetes, what measures you should take to manage it, and what can help you avoid related health problems. Ask your doctor for a thorough overview of your condition, or schedule some one-on-one time with a certified diabetes educator.
3 Diabetes Tests You Must Have
Even before you notice symptoms, high blood sugar can damage parts of your body. That's why certain diabetes tests to check blood sugar control and to catch problems early are so crucial.But many patients aren't getting key diabetes tests at least annually, such as the hemoglobin A1c test, a dilated eye exam, and a foot exam."If you look at the nationwide data, it's sobering," says Enrico Cagliero, MD, a diabetes researcher and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "A lot...
Read the 3 Diabetes Tests You Must Have article > >
Learn what affects your blood sugar levels. To do that, keep track of your levels in a journal or log. You'll also write down what you ate, when you exercised, how stressed you were that day, and so on.
Use these notes to spot patterns, and share them with your doctor. Do you notice a blood sugar surge in the mornings? Do you see a large spike at night after your evening snack? Do you eat at consistent times during the day or go long hours between meals?
These details can help you and your doctor better tailor your diabetes care plan without so much trial and error.
Get support. Family, friends, a health coach, or a behavioral health counselor can all drastically improve how well you keep your diabetes in check.
Also ask your doctor or diabetes educator about local support groups where you can find peers who may be able to relate to what you're going through. Or seek a mental health professional who can help you sort through the many emotions you may feel since your diagnosis.
Get all of your information online. When you do look on the Web, stick with credible sites that have evidence-based research to back up claims.
Jump on a bandwagon diet. Extreme diets to lose weight or manage your blood sugar can be dangerous, particularly when they cut out entire nutrient groups like carbohydrates.
Bite off more than you can chew. Don't commit to too many changes at once. Take it slow so you don’t resort to bad habits.
Find more articles, browse back issues, and read the current issue of "WebMD Magazine."
Know the basics. It will help you a lot to have a firm grasp on what causes diabetes, what measures you should take to manage it, and what can help you avoid related health problems. Ask your doctor for a thorough overview of your condition, or schedule some one-on-one time with a certified diabetes educator.
Recommended Related to Diabetes
3 Diabetes Tests You Must Have
Even before you notice symptoms, high blood sugar can damage parts of your body. That's why certain diabetes tests to check blood sugar control and to catch problems early are so crucial.But many patients aren't getting key diabetes tests at least annually, such as the hemoglobin A1c test, a dilated eye exam, and a foot exam."If you look at the nationwide data, it's sobering," says Enrico Cagliero, MD, a diabetes researcher and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "A lot...
Read the 3 Diabetes Tests You Must Have article > >
Learn what affects your blood sugar levels. To do that, keep track of your levels in a journal or log. You'll also write down what you ate, when you exercised, how stressed you were that day, and so on.
Use these notes to spot patterns, and share them with your doctor. Do you notice a blood sugar surge in the mornings? Do you see a large spike at night after your evening snack? Do you eat at consistent times during the day or go long hours between meals?
These details can help you and your doctor better tailor your diabetes care plan without so much trial and error.
Get support. Family, friends, a health coach, or a behavioral health counselor can all drastically improve how well you keep your diabetes in check.
Also ask your doctor or diabetes educator about local support groups where you can find peers who may be able to relate to what you're going through. Or seek a mental health professional who can help you sort through the many emotions you may feel since your diagnosis.
Don't Do These Things
Get all of your information online. When you do look on the Web, stick with credible sites that have evidence-based research to back up claims.
Jump on a bandwagon diet. Extreme diets to lose weight or manage your blood sugar can be dangerous, particularly when they cut out entire nutrient groups like carbohydrates.
Bite off more than you can chew. Don't commit to too many changes at once. Take it slow so you don’t resort to bad habits.
Find more articles, browse back issues, and read the current issue of "WebMD Magazine."
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