By Neha Pathak, WebMD
Working closely with your doctor, you can manage your diabetes by focusing on six key changes in your daily life.
1.
Eat healthy.
This is crucial when you have diabetes,
because what you eat affects your blood sugar. No foods are strictly
off-limits. Focus on eating only as much as your body needs. Get plenty
of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Choose nonfat dairy and lean
meats. Limit foods that are high in sugar and fat. Remember that
carbohydrates turn into sugar, so watch your carb intake. Try to keep it
about the same from meal to meal. This is even more important if you
take insulin or drugs to control your blood sugars.
2.
Exercise.
If you're not active now, it’s time
to start. You don't have to join a gym and do cross-training. Just
walk, ride a bike, or play active video games. Your goal should be 30
minutes of activity that makes you sweat and breathe a little harder
most days of the week. An active lifestyle helps you control your
diabetes by bringing down your blood sugar. It also lowers your chances
of getting heart disease. Plus, it can help you lose extra pounds and
ease stress.
3.
Get checkups.
See your doctor at least twice a year.
Diabetes raises your odds of heart disease. So learn your numbers:
cholesterol, blood pressure, and A1c (average blood sugar over 3
months). Get a full eye exam every year. Visit a foot doctor to check
for problems like foot ulcers and nerve damage.
4.
Manage stress.
When you're stressed, your
blood sugar levels go up. And when you're anxious, you may not manage
your diabetes well. You may forget to exercise, eat right, or take your
medicines. Find ways to relieve stress -- through deep breathing, yoga,
or hobbies that relax you.
5.
Stop smoking.
Diabetes makes you more likely
to have health problems like heart disease, eye disease, stroke, kidney
disease, blood vessel disease, nerve damage, and foot problems. If you
smoke, your chance of getting these problems is even higher. Smoking
also can make it harder to exercise. Talk with your doctor about ways to
quit.
6.
Watch your alcohol.
It may be easier to control your
blood sugar if you don’t get too much beer, wine, and liquor. So if you
choose to drink, don't overdo it. The American Diabetes Association
says that women who drink alcohol should have no more than one drink a
day and men should have no more than two. Alcohol can make your blood
sugar go too high or too low. Check your blood sugar before you drink,
and take steps to avoid low blood sugars. If you use insulin or take
drugs for your diabetes, eat when you're drinking. Some drinks -- like
wine coolers -- may be higher in carbs, so take this into account when
you count carbs.
