Managing diabetes
Management is different for type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Managing type 1 diabetes involves:
- taking insulin as recommended on a daily basis (through injections or an insulin pump) so that your body can regulate your blood sugar levels
- following your doctor's advice about regulating your carbohydrate intake and getting appropriate exercise
- monitoring your blood sugar levels regularly. Blood glucose monitors, flash glucose monitoring systems and continuous glucose monitoring systems are very convenient for this purpose.
- monitoring A1C, which measures your blood sugar control over time. Your doctor will do this test every 3 months (or every 6 months if your blood sugar is consistently controlled) to see how effectively you're managing your blood sugar levels.
Your dose of insulin will be tailored to your individual needs based on several factors, including your age, lifestyle, meal plan, and activity level. The goal is to try to maintain blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible.
Managing type 2 diabetes involves:
- eating healthy meals and snacks
- weight control and regular exercise
- taking diabetes medications and/or insulin, if prescribed
- monitoring your blood sugar levels regularly
- monitoring A1C
If you have type 2 diabetes, your doctor may prescribe oral (taken by mouth) or injectable medications. There are many kinds of diabetes medications. All of them work differently, but each lowers blood glucose. Ask your doctor which medication or combination of medications is most appropriate for you.
Eating an appropriate, well-balanced diet and exercising regularly is especially important in managing type 2 diabetes. Read more about this in "Nutrition and exercise to control diabetes" in this health feature.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Diabetes-Managing-Your-Condition
