It's National Diabetes Month, and you can celebrate by learning how to better manage your diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic condition, but it is manageable. And unmanaged diabetes can pose serious risks to your health. So, if you're concerned about your diabetes or your risk of developing the condition, speak with your health care provider. Keep reading for more tips on how to improve your diabetes care.
Make Healthy Choices Every Day
Keeping your diabetes in check is about more than managing your blood sugar. While keeping your blood glucose at healthy levels is extremely important, you can make many other healthy lifestyle choices to boost the work your medications are already doing to preserve your heart and kidney health, as well as your health overall.
For example, keep an eye on your sodium and cholesterol intake. Too much sodium is one of several factors that can increase your blood pressure, which ups your risk for heart disease. High cholesterol has also been tied to heart disease. And heart disease is a commonly known risk of unmanaged diabetes.
The following are some other healthy choices you can make every day:
- Make healthy diet decisions, such as opting for lean meats, fruits, and vegetables instead of processed meats and fried foods.
- Balance your meals. Be sure to have a good mixture of good carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables, proteins and fats. This leads to the next tip: Learn about carbohydrate counting because carbohydrates are what have the biggest impact on your blood sugar levels. Pay attention to the types of carbohydrates you choose, as some types are better for you than others.
- Avoid sugar-sweetened beverages.
- Maintain a healthy weight through exercise approved by your doctor. Aim for at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week.
- Take your medication as prescribed, even if you feel fine.