Challenges with diabetes
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EmailManaging daily conditions and concerns caused from diabetes.
When managing diabetes, the benefits of a healthy lifestyle are the key factors in controlling your diabetes. Unfortunately, high blood glucose levels can cause damage to just about every organ in your body. To make sure the complications don’t manage you, Michigan State University Extension recommends the following lifestyle tips as they relate to diabetic conditions.
- Include balanced meals that follow the American Diabetes Association recommendations like meal planning, understanding carbohydrates, and eating out to name a few.
- Take your medications correctly, on time, and the right dosage.
- Communicate with your doctor regularly and be an advocate for yourself.
- Reduce stress levels by exercising, using mindful breathing techniques and developing hobbies that you enjoy.
- Exercise your mind: play games, read the newspaper, or do crossword puzzles. All are excellent ways to keep your brain healthy.
- Find physical activities that you enjoy like walking, swimming and gardening as ideas. Start from where you are in effort and gradually build up the amount of time you spend doing them.
Retinopathy is a common visual complication associated with diabetes. These complications can cause blindness, headaches and cataracts. Suggestions to offset these complications include:
- Get a dilated eye exam every year. According to the American Diabetes Association, the exam will detect signs of early eye disease.
- Control your blood pressure. Keep your A1C levels down, quit smoking and control your cholesterol levels.
Mouth infections, tooth and gum decay have more severe effects on people with diabetes. See a dentist twice a year. Follow these steps to healthier gums and teeth.
- Have a routine for flossing, brushing and rinsing your teeth.
- Make sure your dentist knows you have diabetes.
- Check your mouth regularly for problems.
The number one cause of kidney failure in the United States is diabetes. Early kidney disease has no symptoms and can become kidney failure if undetected. The good news is that it can be treated effectively if detected early enough.
- Control your blood pressure.
- Keep cholesterol levels in a safe range.
- Get screened for kidney disease.
- Take medication as directed.
A continuous concern of people with diabetes is foot issues such as ulcers and wounds, and amputation. Consistent diabetes management is the key to success. Manage your feet by:
- Maintain good blood glucose control.
- Buy good-fitting supportive shoes.
- Go to a podiatrist regularly.
- Wear socks.
- Look for wounds on the bottom of your feet. Use a mirror on the floor if you are not able to see.
Stay on top of your health by following your healthcare provider’s recommendations. Be your own best advocate. Be sure to check out the no-cost online health programs offered through MSU Extension. For more information, visit MSU Extension's calendar of virtual health classes.
