If you missed part 2 click here
Step 6: Discuss Medications With Your Physician
Again, if you have type 1 diabetes, you and your physician will decide which type or types of insulin are best for your body.
Managing your glucose levels through insulin, nutrition and exercise can effectively put your diabetes in your control.
Many people with type 2 diabetes are able to manage their diabetes through diet and exercise alone. But in addition to lifestyle changes, some diabetics need to take medications: pills and sometimes insulin, as well.
It can be a balancing act, and it may be a tricky one for you and your healthcare providers to figure it out. Don’t be afraid to voice your concerns and ask questions when it comes to medications, or anything else about the disease. It’s your body, after all.
Step 7: Be Aware of Potential Complications
Too many times, diabetes is not diagnosed until it’s already done some harm. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
If you know you’ve got diabetes or are pre-diabetic, here are some issues you’ll want to be aware of so you can put a stop to them at their earliest stages:
- Eye Problems including glaucoma & cataracts
- Foot Nerve Damage (neuropathy) causing loss of feeling
- Skin Infections & Disorders
- High Blood Pressure
- Heart Disease & Stroke
- Gum Disease
Other possible complications include hearing loss, digestive problems caused by nerve damage in the stomach (gastroparesis) and depression.
Step 8: Keep Getting Tested
Everyone could benefit from regular health screenings, but if you’re a diabetic, they’re especially important. You should check:
- Your blood pressure once a year (it should be below 130/80
mm/Hg) - Your Hemoglobin A1c every 3-6 months (Click Here)
- You cholesterol and triglyceride levels once a year (LDL should be between 70-100 mg/dL) (Click Here)
- Your kidneys once a year
- Your eyes for diabetic retinopathy at least once a year
- Your teeth and gums every 6 months
- Your feet at each visit to your healthcare provider
To order your test online and visit a lab to get tested click here “When it comes to your own health, there’s no reason not to get tested,” says Dr. Salko. ” We’re doing everything we to make testing as easy as we can, and as affordable as we can. The information and answers you get, whatever they are, are the key to keeping you on the right track.”
