Look at the past 12 months and ask yourself a few questions. Overall, did you feel well? Did you maintain target blood sugar levels? If not, do you know why? Were you able to return to goal quickly? Were you able to control your cholesterol and blood pressure to prevent diabetes-related cardiovascular disease?
If you answered "no" to any of these questions, now is the time to revisit diabetes basics and get back on track.
Getting Back to the Basics Know your blood sugar. Work with your physician to determine your ideal daily levels and your target A1c range (a measurement of average blood glucose levels during the past two to three months). The American Diabetes Association suggests keeping blood sugar levels between 90 and 130 in the morning and before meals. At bedtime, your blood sugar level range should be between 110 and 150. When testing your blood sugar, notice how you feel. If you think your goal levels are unrealistic, or cause you to have more days of feeling bad than good, talk with your physician.
Tracking your blood sugar is important in preventing diabetes-related complications. Findings from the recent Diabetes Control and Complications study show blood sugar control reduces the risk of serious health complications linked to diabetes, such as stroke and heart disease, the No. 1 cause of diabetes-related death. The study also showed that tight control of blood sugar levels reduced the risk of developing eye disease by 76 percent and the risk of developing kidney disease by 35 to 50 percent.
Monitor your cardiovascular health. According to the American Heart Association, two-thirds to three-fourths of all people with Type 2 diabetes die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease. Understanding how diabetes impacts your heart is crucial. That includes learning the basics about cholesterol and blood pressure. For instance, the ADA suggests keeping total cholesterol levels below 200, with LDL ("bad") cholesterol below 100 and HDL ("good") cholesterol above 45. Blood pressure control can reduce cardiovascular disease up to 50 percent and can reduce eye, kidney and nerve disease by about 33 percent. Try to keep your blood pressure under 130/80. The American Heart Association offers several support tools to help you understand diabetes-related cardiovascular risks through its program called "The Heart Of DiabetesSM: Understanding Insulin Resistance."
Identify any necessary lifestyle changes. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is essential to successful diabetes management. Yet, it's easy to forget or underestimate how everyday choices effect blood glucose levels. Eating nutritious meals, staying physically active and tracking your progress are all basic steps managing your diabetes. Work with your dietitian to find healthy and enjoyable meal plans. Regular physical activity helps control blood glucose levels, has been shown to help prevent cardiovascular disease -- and it helps you maintain a healthy weight. To make sure your exercise program meets your needs, discuss your plan with your physician or diabetes educator. As you continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle, be sure to track how your physical activity, therapy regimen and healthy eating habits affect your blood glucose levels.
Consider sharing the checklist below with friends and family living with diabetes. It will help them get a pulse check on 2003 and start 2004 off on the right foot.
Standing the Test of Time Check off all that you have been able to complete in the past year: I visit my physician twice a year to discuss my treatment and daily regimen. I take my diabetes treatment medication on a regular basis. I know my target range for blood glucose, A1c, blood pressure and cholesterol. I keep a detailed record of my blood glucose and A1c checks. I had my cholesterol checked at least once this year. I check my blood pressure level once a month. I received a dilated eye exam at least once this year. I exercise (run, walk, swim, etc.) 30 minutes a day most days of the week. I incorporate fruits, vegetables, grain products and fat-free or low-fat milk products into my daily meals. I limit trans and saturated fats, sweets and sodium. I limit my alcohol intake to two drinks a day (if male). I limit myself to one alcoholic drink a day (if female). When feeling stressed out, I find ways to relax such as doing breathing exercises or replacing bad thoughts with good ones.
If you were able to check off most of the statements listed above, you're on the right track to managing your diabetes. Talk to your physician about how you can improve control in areas that you find hard to manage.
This article from Diabetes Positive! magazine is provided as a service by LifeScan. All materials are produced independently by Diabetes Positive!, which is solely responsible for its content. Remember that the information provided by this site is for general background purposes and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment by a trained professional. You should always consult your own physician about any healthcare questions you may have, especially before trying a new medication, diet, fitness program, or approach to health care issues.
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