Diabetes To Do List
1 Develop Positive Thinking - Studies have shown fairly conclusively that if you start with a positive frame of mind, your body can work with you and not against you Achieving a positive attitude has a lot to do with how you interpret problems If you see them as temporary and the result of something you can change given enough time, you will be much more optimistic and able to solve most issues 2 Monitor Test - You have to use your brain to make the calculation that your pancreas would do automatically if it could The calculation is, of course, how much medicine to take for a given glucose This is where monitoring comes in If you have Type 1 diabetes, you need to monitor before meals and at bedtime at least If you have Type 2 diabetes, you can get away with a couple of tests daily and sometimes even less if youre stable Remember, however, that blood glucose tests are only a moment in time What you need to know is whether you are in control 24 hours a day That is where the hemoglobin A1c comes in Your doctor should order this test at least every four months if youre stable and every three months if not Even with near-normal hemoglobin A1c results, you will still
want to be checked for any sign of complications That means regular eye examinations, regular blood and urine tests for kidney damage, and regular tests for sensation in your feet Your doctor should do this on schedule, and, if not, you have to remind the doctor Great treatment exists for every diabetic complication, and the earlier the treatment is started, the less likely the complication will lead to serious damage Routine monitoring and testing allow you to discover the problem as early as possible 3 Use Medications If Needed - Some of the things you need to know when you take your medications include: Are you taking the right dose at the right time? Are you taking it with or without food depending upon the medication? Does it mix with your other medications? Are you aware of side effects, and are they being monitored? Can the desired effect sometimes be too strong? Do you have an antidote to its effect available if necessary? Do you need to adjust the dose when youre not feeling well? 4 Follow A Diet - You can enjoy delicious food that provides plenty of energy for your needs Although the emphasis in the last few years has been reducing fat in your diet, especially cholesterol
and saturated fat, you have to be aware of your carbohydrate intake as well And it doesnt hurt to know something about the quality of the carbohydrate as well as the quantity Try to choose low glycemic index carbohydrate, like basmati rice instead of white rice Any carbohydrate with lots of fiber will be a low glycemic source You will have lower blood glucose as a result and require less insulin to control it Not only does that means better diabetic control, but your fats, particularly triglycerides, may also lower, and this will decrease the severity of the insulin resistance syndrome if you have Type 2 diabetes Most people can make changes in their diet over the short term, but maintaining these changes over the long term is difficult The best way to accomplish a long-term change is to have a plan and try to carry it out It is probably the times that you are in an unplanned situation that are the most damaging to your diabetic control For example, when you enter a restaurant, youre presented with a menu The job of the author of that menu is to entice you by the description of the food to order
that dish, just as the picture on the food boxes in stores entice you to buy that food
If you have in mind what is good for your diabetic diet, you tend to order what helps you, not what messes up your control One thing that helps a lot in diabetes is if you have a fair amount of order in your life You must take your medications at about the same time and eat at about the same time You must test at about the same time and exercise at about the same time 5 Exercise - The more you exercise regularly, the better you can control your blood glucose This holds true for your weight as well If you have Type 2 diabetes, youll need less or no medication If you have Type 1 diabetes, youll need less insulin Remember: You need to do something daily, if possible, but no less than three or four times a week Set up a program with goals Dont limit yourself to aerobics 6 Use Other Expertise The Primary Physician The Diabetologist or Endocrinologist The Eye Doctor The Foot Doctor The Dietitian The Diabetes Educator The Pharmacist The Mental Health Worker
Handout Created By: Hilary Horton-Brown, RD, LD, CPT, Boise State University Nutrition Counselor, 2007
Source:cardiumhealth.com
