How to control sugar, and how manage to the health condition I am already eat tablet daily GM.
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Living with diabetes is a challenge that more people in the United States are facing every day. Over 8 percent of Americans now have diabetes ? that?s about 26 million people in all, although about 7 million aren?t even aware that they have it. Beyond managing the condition itself, it?s crucial to get diabetes under control because of the risk for serious complications ? from kidney failure and nerve damage to heart disease and stroke. On the positive side, you can manage diabetes by following just a few simple healthy-living strategies: Monitoring your blood sugar, taking any prescribed medications, eating a smart diabetes diet, and exercising regularly ? every day. Monitoring Your Blood Sugar To effectively manage diabetes, it?s crucial to monitor your blood sugar. ?It?s like a light in a dark tunnel: You need to see where you?re going,? says Betul Hatipoglu, MD, an endocrinologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. ?If you take insulin, it?s important to check your blood sugar before each injection to be safe, or once a day if you don?t take insulin.? If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and use insulin, it?s also important to check your blood sugar before exercising or bedtime, and before driving a car to make sure you don?t have low blood sugar. If you're on medication and checking your blood sugar once a day, it might be best to vary what time you check it, sampling at different times of the day, such as before meals or two hours after meals, Dr. Hatipoglu advises. Research has shown that when you monitor your blood sugar closely, it improves your ability to manage diabetes. In a study of almost 300 people published in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, people with diabetes who regularly monitored their blood sugar had a significantly better quality of life than those with low blood sugar. Handling the Diabetes Diet When people are told they need to change their diet to manage diabetes, they may become overwhelmed by the challenge and revert to old habits. But a diabetes diet isn?t all that different from how everybody should be eat on a daily basis, says Elizabeth Snyder, RD, LD, a registered dietitian with the Ohio State University Diabetes Research Center in Columbus. Snyder suggests people with diabetes start with a good breakfast each day to avoid crashes and overeating later on. She also recommends getting plenty of fiber from whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, and choosing lean protein sources and low-fat or fat-free dairy products. Steer clear of sugary, sweetened beverages in favor of unsweetened tea and water, and have a few small, healthy snacks throughout the day to avoid the drops and spikes in blood sugar that can occur between meals. Sticking to Your Medication Plan If your doctor prescribes medication, sticking to the scheduling is vital. The routine will be different depending on whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and if you need to take insulin or other drugs, too. Regardless of what type of medication you take, Hatipoglu has a few suggestions to make it easier. ?Use a daily pill box if you tend to forget to take your medication, and place it in the kitchen or in the bathroom near your toothbrush to help prevent missing a dose,? she says. ?If you take insulin, a journal with food intake and blood sugar information can be priceless when it comes to treatment-plan troubleshooting in your doctor?s office.? Managing Diabetes With Exercise Regular exercise is a key component when it comes to your overall health and living well with diabetes. However, getting started with an exercise program can call for a little more effort if you need to monitor blood sugar before and after exercise. For this reason, Hatipoglu suggests starting with a simple, easily achievable exercise routine. ?Walking is usually the best as it?s fun, can be done indoors or outdoors, and only requires a good pair of shoes, she says. Swimming, cycling, dancing, and running are other good aerobic op.
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