Managing Diabetes
Managing diabetes is a lifelong commitment that’s totally worth it. Keep your diabetes under control and you can have a long, awesome life to look forward to. It’s only when your diabetes gets out of control that you could run into health problems.
Are you Ready to Commit to Managing your Diabetes?
Diabetes management step-by-step- Get informed: Learn as much about diabetes as you can (if you’re reading this, you’re obviously already working on that!)
- Check your blood glucose: Use your meter to check your blood glucose levels regularly.
- Keep track of your blood glucose levels: Log on to the Online Blood Glucose Log
- Get active: Making sure you get regular physical activity will help lower your blood glucose level.
- Eat right: Talk to your diabetes educator or a dietician about what, when and how much you should eat to help regulate your blood glucose level.
- Maintain a healthy weight: This is especially important if you’re a type 2 teen. Ask your doctor or diabetes educator what’s a healthy weight for you.
- Medicate: Use your insulin if you’ve got type 1 diabetes. If you’re a type 2 teen you may need medications and/or insulin in addition to management through physical activity and meal planning.
- Stay cool: Stress can affect your diabetes management, so learn how to manage stress and keep things in perspective.
- Blood pressure and cholesterol: Not just for old folks. Your doctor will check your blood pressure and cholesterol and help make sure they stay at healthy levels.
- Pay attention to your body: Avoid complications by taking care of your feet and regularly visit everyone in your diabetes healthcare team, including your diabetes educator, eye care specialist and doctor.