Caring for Your Diabetes
As you are already well aware, it is important to keep the amount of the amount of sugar, or glucose in your blood within your target range in order to avoid complications. By keeping your blood glucose in check you can prevent or delay diabetes-related health problems. To find out what your target blood glucose range should be, contact your doctor.
How to keep your blood glucose within your target range:
- Eat proper amounts of food
- Pay special attention to carbohydrates
- Choose high fiber and whole grain foods
- Eat less fat, sugar, and salt
- Check with your doctor before using alcohol
- Take the right dosage of your diabetes medication at the right time of day
- Be physically active
Symptoms that may be a result of low blood glucose:
- Sweating
- Rapid heart rate
- Trouble concentrating
- Feeling tired
- Shaky
- Mood changes
- Hungry
- Headache
You can learn more about healthy eating and how to manage your diabetes from your dietician or diabetes educator. Remember to always carry something with you to treat a low blood glucose reaction, and be sure to talk with your healthcare provider before you start to increase your physical activity.
*The Joslin Diabetes Center, "What You Need to Know About Diabetes: A Short Guide." 2008