How to Control Diabetes - Steps You Need to Know in Treating Diabetes Effectively

If you are afflicted by the diabetes disease, chances are you will spend the rest of your life coping on how to control the dreaded disease. A person has diabetes if the blood sugar level is higher than the normal level.

Diabetes are categorized into three types namely: type 1, type 2 and gestational. If you are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, your body is not producing insulin, hence, insulin injection is needed. In type 2 diabetes, the body is not making the right insulin or insulin is not properly used. Treatment may start with oral medication but may eventually lead to insulin injection. Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women and disappears when the mother gives birth. The mother is already susceptible to developing type 2 diabetes as the years pass by.

How to control diabetes is by knowing the disease, its management and the necessary routine care.

Have a Sound Knowledge about the Disease:

1. The objective is to attain a less than 7% average in the A1c test to prevent complications like kidney failure, blindness and nerve damage. The hemoglobi
A1c test is the average glucose level in the blood for the past 3 months.

2. Keep your blood pressure at the ideal 130/80. Having a high blood pressure can cause kidney disease, heart attack and stroke.

3. Constantly check the LDL (bad) cholesterol level which should be maintained at less than 100 as well as the HDL (good) cholesterol level which should remain above 40. When there is build up of LDL cholesterol, it may clog the blood vessels. HDL (good) cholesterol helps in purifying the blood.

Things to Consider in Managing Diabetes:

1. In eating, always follow the diabetes meal plan prepared by the dietitian. Take note that they may consist of the following foods:nna. Nutritional foods such as fish, fruits and vegetables, skinless chicken or turkey, lean meat, whole grains, dry peas or beans and low-fat or skim milk.nnb. Foods that does not contain too much salt or too much fat.nnc. Fruits that are fibrous, breads or whole grain cereals, rice, crackers, pasta.

2. Engage in regular exercise for about 30 to 60 minutes daily in order to improve blood circulation and insulin reactivity.

3. Be more conscious of your weight because too much fat in the body impairs the effectiveness of insulin.

4. Seek advice from your diabetes counselor or the rest of the diabetes team in case you are feeling down.

5. Avoid too much stress since it has a tendency to raise blood sugar level.

6. Stop smoking to allow for a healthier immune system. .

7. Take your medications religiously and as prescribed by the doctor even if you are feeling good.

8. Observe proper foot hygiene since the blood circulation is already impaired causing wounds to take longer time to heal.

9. Observe proper dental hygiene all the time to prevent mouth sores and other complications.

10. Take the initiative to learn how to take the blood glucose level by yourself and record the figures in a logbook for your doctor's evaluation.

11. Have your blood pressure checked regularly to detect early signs of possible heart attack or stroke.

12. In case blurred visions take place, report this condition to the doctor immediately.

Observe the Routine Check-ups:

1. See your doctor even at least twice a year to treat new problems that may arise.

2. Have your A1c tested at least two times a year.

3. Be sure to have a test or examination of the following even once a year: cholesterol, foot, blood fat (triglyceride), eye, dental, urine and blood. Have your yearly flu vaccination.

How to control diabetes will be very tedious and annoying, but this is the only way for a diabetes sufferer to have a longer life.