Living with diabetes certainly comes with its fair share of challenges. Balancing medications, frequent doctor's appointments, testing blood sugar levels, modifying your diet, and squeezing in exercise can feel overwhelming at times.
You may even worry about the increased risk of diabetic complications down the road if management ever lapses.
But here's the good news - you have more control than you realize. Through knowledge, planning, and discipline, you can prevent the onset of common diabetes complications and safeguard your future well-being. Exciting.
In this blog post, we want to inform you of 6 essential, realistic tips to prevent complications. By applying them daily, you can proactively minimize health risks in an empowering way.
Critical Tips for Preventing Complications
Controlling your blood sugar levels within the target range set by your doctor is vital for preventing diabetes complications down the road. When glucose remains too high or dips too low consistently daily, it causes cumulative damage to the body over months and years.
But if you can keep your levels in check daily, you can dramatically slash your risk!
1.Check Blood Sugar Regularly
● Test blood sugar when you wake up, before meals, 2 hours after meals, before bedtime, and before/after exercise
● Log all numbers in detail to establish trends
● Bring logs to appointments to discuss with your care team
● Use data to make informed decisions about food, activity, medication, etc.
● Invest in continuous glucose monitor if able
Monitoring gives you the power! Without an accurate picture of your baseline and fluctuating levels, it's impossible to prevent complications. So, promise yourself today to start checking and recording numbers habitually.
2.Follow the Prescribed Medication Plan
● Take oral medications or inject insulin as directed by your doctor
● Never miss doses or alter amounts on your own
● Note side effects and discuss options with your doctor
● Use pill organizers, alerts, apps, etc. to prevent forgetting
● Get annual vaccination against influenza and pneumonia
Medications are designed to balance the insulin your body struggles to produce. Getting lazy about taking them allows blood sugar chaos! Set phone reminders, sync to smartwatches, and do whatever it takes to cement medication adherence.
3.Adopt a Diabetes-Friendly Diet
● Meet with a dietitian to develop an optimal personal nutrition plan
● Focus on non-starchy vegetables, whole grains, lean protein
● Severely limit sugar, refined carbs, fried foods, and sodium
● Drink water and avoid all sugary beverages
● Practice mindful eating and portion control
While foods don't have the same direct impact on blood sugar as exercise and medication, they still play a critical supporting role! Balance macronutrients and choose better-for-you options to prevent blood sugar spikes.
4.Stay Physically Active
● Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity daily
● Choose walking, swimming, cycling, strength training
● Gradually increase duration and intensity under guidance
● Coordinate insulin dosing effectively around workouts
● Incorporate activity into usual daily routines
Think movement, not gruelling workouts! Physical activity makes the body more sensitive to insulin and directly burns glucose for energy. For best results, get clearance from your care team and take a gradual approach to ramping things up.
5.Stop Unhealthy Habits
● Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke
● Follow doctor guidance on limiting alcohol
● Prioritize stress management and mental health
● Get therapy, join support groups, practice self-care
Kicking unhealthy habits provides an adjuvant benefit for blood sugar control on top of other lifestyle measures! So show your health some love by adding positive changes and subtracting negative ones.
6.Get Regular Medical Check-Ups
● Attend appointments with the entire diabetes care team
● Get bloodwork, urinalysis, and blood pressure checks
● Receive dilated eye exams and foot exams
● Ensure early intervention for any issues detected
Consistent medical follow-up enables complications and risks to be caught early before they spiral. Be diligent with all testing and speciality visits - this protection is priceless!
Bottom Line
While living with diabetes presents challenges, you have significant influence over your health through self-management and lifestyle choices.
You can thrive in wellness with the six tips above for preventing complications. We hope you feel empowered to take control today!
FAQs:
Q. What are the most common diabetes complications?
Ans. The most concerning diabetes complications involve damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. These include issues like heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and poor circulation.
Q. How often should I have a diabetic eye exam?
Ans. The American Diabetes Association recommends a dilated eye exam at least once a year for people with type 2 diabetes and every year after the 5-year mark for people with type 1 diabetes.
