What You Can Do
First Remember:
Never substitute information obtained from the internet, including this website, for advice from your healthcare professional.
Diet and Exercise
Attention to diet and exercise are among the most important things you can do to maintain your health. Often a modest increase in exercise can make a significant difference.
Blood Sugar Testing
Blood sugar testing is an essential part of diabetes care.
The Mayo clinic states "When you have diabetes, blood sugar testing is the most important thing you can do to feel your best and prevent long-term complications. Consider it an opportunity to take charge of your health."
Blood Pressure Monitoring
Blood pressure monitoring plays an important part in the management of diabetes. Keeping track of blood pressure is important because people who have diabetes tend to have more trouble with high blood pressure than people who don't have the disease.
Early Detection Cuts Risks.
Traditionally this has usually been carried out in doctors' offices. However in recent years, technology has evolved to a point where blood pressure monitors are availble for people in their own home. They are easy to use and very accurate.
Foot Care
It is hard to overstate the value of the role that preventive foot care can play in the management of diabetes.
High blood glucose from diabetes causes two problems that can hurt your feet:
One problem is damage to nerves in your legs and feet. With damaged nerves, you might not feel pain, heat, or cold in your legs and feet. A sore or cut on your foot may get worse because you do not know it is there. This lack of feeling is caused by nerve damage, also called diabetic neuropathy. Nerve damage can lead to a sore or an infection.
The second problem happens when not enough blood flows to your legs and feet. Poor blood flow makes it hard for a sore or infection to heal. This problem is called peripheral vascular disease, also called PVD. Smoking when you have diabetes makes blood flow problems much worse.