Diabetes is a common endocrine disorder that causes hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. Impaired ability to use insulin causes blood glucose levels to climb. Uncontrolled hyperglycemia can create many dangerous health complications, including kidney and heart failure, and damage to the eyes, nerves and blood vessels. Individuals with diabetes, however, do have control of their disease. There are several ways to manage blood sugar yourself to prevent complications and to live a healthy life.
Diabetes Self-Management and Diet
One of the most significant ways you can control diabetes is through diet. Carbohydrates found in fruit, starchy vegetables and starches such as breads, rice, or pasta, must be broken down to glucose in the body.
Consuming a diet with excessive carbohydrates can create problems in controlling sugar levels. The American Diabetes Association recommends 45 to 60 g carbohydrate per meal. This is three to four servings. Incorporating more fiber, which is high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, will also help lower blood sugar and reduce cholesterol.
Diabetes Self-Management & Physical Activity
Combining a carbohydrate-controlled meal plan with a physical activity regimen is one of the best techniques in managing your diabetes. Physical activity lowers your blood sugar, because it helps glucose move out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used for energy. It will also help you lose excess weight, which can make managing your diabetes easier. Before beginning any regimen, however, check with your physician first to see what is right for you.
Diabetes Self-Management and Stress
Although it can be difficult in our busy lifestyles, avoiding excessive stress can help you maintain control of diabetes. Both emotional and physical stress will raise your blood glucose. Stress can also cause you to less likely to maintain your diet and exercise plans.
Learning emotional stress-management techniques, such as taking time to do something you enjoy, can help. For physical stresses such as an infection, the American Diabetes Association recommends developing a "sick-day plan" to ensure you eat right, take your necessary medications, and if needed, have easy accessibility to a physician, including on nights or weekends.
Diabetes Self-Management & Medications
Taking your medications as prescribed by your physician is of the utmost importance when managing diabetes. Missing doses or taking medication improperly can be extremely dangerous, even life-threatening. Be aware of potential food and drug interactions as well.
Avoiding alcohol is commonly recommended when taking most diabetes medications. If you have concerns or questions about any of your medications, be proactive in finding the answers from your health care provider.
Considerations
An important consideration is consistency. The American Dietetic Association recommends that consistency in your habits is important to maintain good blood sugar levels. For instance, when you stray from your usual diet routine, such as skipping a meal or eating later than usual, it can cause spikes and drops in your levels.
Dramatic fluctuations in your schedule will inflict the most damage to your health. If you must change your schedule, consider checking your blood sugar more often to see how the changes affect you. You can then adjust accordingly.
References
- "Nutrition Therapy and Pathophysiology"; Marcia Nelms, Katherine Sucher, Sara Long; 2007
- American Diabetes Association; Carbohydrate Counting; 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Diabetes Treatments and Drugs; March 2010
- American Dietetic Association; Recommendations Summary Diabetes Mellitus; 2010
