If you've just been diagnosed with diabetes, you may be under the impression that it's no big deal. You'll continue to live your life the way you have been and everything will work out just fine. Unfortunately, this is realistic thinking. There are a number of things you are going to need to start doing on a regular basis to keep your diabetes in check. The good news is that if you put the following 10 points into play, you can prevent - yes prevent - many of the effects of diabetes. If you choose not to follow these points, you risk a a shortened life span and one that will be full of misery.
The top ten ways to prevent - or even reverse the effects of diabetes:
1. Monitor Your Blood Sugar
These days, diabetics have absolutely no excuse for not monitoring their blood sugar level on a regular basis. With incredibly compact and extremely accurate glucose meters available, you can check your level multiple times a day, no matter where you are or what your are doing. Knowing where you stand throughout the day is critical.
2. Monitor Your Diet
You know the saying "you are what you eat"? Well, in the case of a diabetic, you have the choice of being in control of your life or your life being out of control. It's that simple. Gain weight and you gain insulin resistance, which will lead to all sorts of complications. The good news is that you can control this by eating a sensible diet. Don't get hung up on a "diabetic diet"! Simply eat a healthy diet like anyone else should and you'll be fine. These days, most restaurants have healthy options, so there is no excuse why you can't follow a sensible diet, even when away from home.
3. Continual Testing
With all the potential complications of diabetes, it's critical that you have your doctor run several tests throughout the year. Urine tests, foot exams, eye exams, etc., etc. are critical seeing as it can take up to ten years for many complications to develop. Keeping on top of potential problems before the exist will go a long way in keeping complications at bay.
4. Exercise Regularly
You may be thinking you've got to run 5 miles a day or ride a bike for 3 hours a day. Not even close. A simple brisk walk for 20 minutes can do wonders for you. The key in exercising is to pick something you are comfortable with and do it with consistency.
5. Stay Educated
There is so much happening in the field of diabetes research, you really owe it to yourself to keep on top of any new advances as it could help improve your lifestyle and help extend your life. Pick up recent books, or maybe even take a course on diabetes once in a while. Become a member of the American Diabetes Association as they do a great job in keeping people in the loop. You'll also get the magazine Diabetes Forecast.
6. Medication
Always comply with what your doctor tells you to do - especially when it comes to medication. You've got to take your prescribed medications day in and day out without exception.
7. Positive Attitude
While it can be difficult at times, the difference between a diabetic with a positive attitude and one with a negative attitude is amazing. Those with a positive attitude about the disease tend to treat it like a challenge and an opportunity to live their life as normally as possible. However, the diabetic with a negative attitude generally has a poor diet, doesn't exercises and fails to take their medications.
8. Prevention
This is critical when it comes to your daily diet. How often do you end up eating out somewhere with friends or relatives? If you aren't the one making the call as to where you'll eat, or if you are eating at a friends house, it's important that you inform people you are with that you are a diabetic and that you need to eat a healthy meal. Even if eating a healthy meal isn't possible at a given time, you can prevent issues by eating a much smaller portion.
9. Caring For Your Feet
This is critical in order to avoid foot disease. As a diabetic, you've got to monitor your feet on a daily basis. Problems start when you can't feel your feet due to neuropathy. Simply by running a 10 gram filament test, you'll know if you have a problem. If you can't feel the filament, this means your feet will not feel burning hot water, a stone or even a nail in your shoe. If you lose sensation in your feet, your eyes will need to replace the pain fibers. If you don't pay attention to your feet on a daily basis, you could end up facing foot disease and eventual amputation.
10. Eye Care
Diabetics need to have an eye exam by a qualified ophthalmologist or optometrist at least once a year - and more often if necessary. If you've controlled your diabetes, your eye doctor will see two eyes in excellent condition. If not, early signs of eye disease will likely be present. When that happens, you've got no choice but to control your your blood sugar, in addition to controlling high blood pressure. Failure to do so could eventually lead to blindness.
