Diabetes is a serious condition affecting millions of people, but it can also be managed with the right support system and lifestyle habits. If your loved one is dealing with diabetes, it’s important to understand what they need to do daily to maintain their blood sugar levels. Here are some tips on how you can help them manage their condition:
A Balanced Diet
The first step in managing diabetes is ensuring you eat a balanced diet. A diet high in fiber, protein, and whole grains can help you feel full longer and prevent overeating. Also, it will keep your blood sugar levels stable throughout the day without causing spikes that lead to fluctuations in energy or mood. Choose foods low in fat and sugar such as fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains; avoid fried foods or anything deep fried; choose lean meats like chicken instead of pork chops or beef steaks; drink skim milk instead of whole milk; use less butter on toast or potatoes (or no butter at all!) when cooking them at home rather than grabbing something out of a fast-food restaurant’s freezer case which may contain trans fats which have been linked with heart disease among other ailments.
Regular Exercise
Regular exercise is important for blood sugar control. The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with type 2 diabetes engage in 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week, 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week.
Diabetes can be a very isolating diagnosis, but staying active and joining your community’s fitness center may be the answer to maintaining social connections and feeling better about yourself. It may even help you avoid certain complications associated with diabetes, such as heart disease and kidney failure.
Check Blood Sugar Levels Regularly
It’s important to check blood sugar levels regularly and keep track of them. Your loved one should check his or her blood sugar level before eating breakfast, after exercising, and at bedtime. If your loved one is not careful about checking their blood sugar levels and taking insulin when needed, they may have episodes of high or low blood sugar (also known as hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia). This can be dangerous for their health! Too much sugar in the bloodstream can cause coma or death if not treated immediately by calling 911, who will help administer glucose intravenously until medical professionals arrive at the scene.
Medication
Medication is a big part of managing diabetes, and it’s important to make sure that your loved one takes it as directed. Some medications can be taken in the morning or evening, but others need to be taken at the same time each day. Make sure your loved one knows how long they should wait after eating before taking their medication (usually 30 minutes) so that food doesn’t interfere with its absorption.
Medication should always be stored in a safe place away from children and pets. If possible, keep them on a high shelf so that even if someone were able to reach them, they’d have difficulty getting them down without someone noticing. Also, make sure that all unused medication is disposed of properly when you get home from the pharmacy—don’t just leave pills sitting around where anyone could take advantage of them! Finally, make sure the names on bottles match up before allowing your loved one to take anything; otherwise, serious side effects could occur if they accidentally ingest something meant for another person with diabetes!
Conclusion
It’s always possible to start taking care of your loved one. They deserve the best possible care and support from you, and that’s what we’re here for. We can help with everything from blood glucose monitoring to nutrition counseling, so contact us today if you have any questions or concerns!
