Diabetes Self-Management

Few helpful skills you can expect to learn as you begin to self-manage your diabetes

• How to make healthy food choices
• How to feel confident about the choices you make
• How to eat a healthy amount of food at each meal
• How to test blood sugars at home
• What the blood sugar numbers mean
• How your medicine(s)/insulin(s) work
• When to take your medicine(s)/insulin(s)
• Possible side effects from your medicine(s)/ insulin(s) and what to do
• What are healthy physical activities for you and the good things that come from staying active
• What to do if your sugars are too high or too low
• How to reduce your risk of diabetes problems
• What diabetes care to expect or ask for

Self-Management and Things to remember

• Feel free to ask questions with your healthcare provider
• Be patient with yourself - Give yourself time to change habits and learn all the new information. You can learn to self-manage your diabetes well.

Keep one Personal Diabetes Care Record for you

Personal Diabetes Care Record will help you to track of your results and remind you when it is time for a re-check And normally your Diabetes Care Record should reflect the following details

Lab Tests

A1c
Have this checked every 3-6 months (Ideal: Less than 7%)
This is a blood test done by a lab which checks your average blood sugar level for the past 2-3 months.

Fasting Lipid Panel
Have this checked every year
(Ideal: Total cholesterol less than 200 mg/dL
Triglycerides less than 150 mg/dL
HDL [good cholesterol]
men – 40 mg/dL or above
women – 50 mg/dL or above
LDL [bad cholesterol]
less than 100 mg/dL or
less than 70 mg/dL for those at high risk)
Cholesterol is a fat that builds up in your blood, clogs your arteries, and can block blood flow to your heart.

Urine Microalbumin
Have this checked every year (Ideal: Less than 30 mg/dL)
This is a urine test that looks for tiny amounts of protein in your urine. Protein should not be found in your urine. If protein is found, you may be treated with medication to help control protein amount.


Exams

Dilated Retinal Eye Exam
Have this exam done every year
Your doctor will put drops in your eyes to help see the back of your eyes. This is the only way to find out if diabetes has caused any damage to your eyes.

Dental Exam / Oral Exam
Have a dental exam every 6-12 months
Have an oral exam at every diabetes visit
Regular visits with a dentist and oral exams can help find problems early, such as mouth infections and gum diseases, so treatment can be started.

Foot Exam
Have your feet checked each time you visit the doctor
Have your provider do a complete foot exam using a tool called a monofilament every year.
Diabetes can cause poor circulation. Over time, there can be a loss of feeling in your feet. Checking your feet every day will help you notice changes so you can report any changes or problems and keep them from getting worse.

Diabetes Visit / Complete Physical Exam
Diabetes Visit - Have this exam every 3-6 months
A diabetes office visit is a time to talk with your provider and discuss concerns you may have.
Complete Physical - Have this exam every year
A complete physical exam can help you stay healthy by providing preventive health care services.


Shots

Flu Shot and Pneumonia Shot
Have the flu shot every fall
Have a pneumonia shot once, then as recommended
People with diabetes are at greater risk of getting flu and pneumonia. Shots will help lower that risk.


Medical Checks and Education

Blood Pressure
Have this checked every time you visit your provider
(Ideal: Less than 130/80 mmHg)
This test measures how well your heart is pumping blood. High blood pressure can be treated and controlled with medicine.

Physical Activity Level

(Ideal: 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week)
Any physical activity (for example walking) will help lower your blood sugar level and help you feel better. Find an activity you enjoy doing and gradually increase the amount of time until you reach your goal.

Healthy Eating/Meal Choices

A Dietitian or your doctor can help you learn how to make healthy meal choices and teach you about healthy serving sizes. If you are overweight, any weight loss will be helpful. Healthy weight helps your insulin work better.


Diabetes Self-Management Education

See a Diabetes Educator when first diagnosed with diabetes, then every 6-12 months or more as needed. A Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) is best to help you learn how to self-manage your diabetes. Learning about diabetes will take time, but it will help you make healthy choices every day.


Home Blood Sugar Testing

Testing your blood sugar levels is important. It helps you know how your body is using the food you had eaten. Consult your health care provider about how often should take a blood test.


Tobacco Use

Once someone starts using tobacco products, it is very hard to stop. But fortunately there are many ways to quit, and you can get find one that might works for you. Tobacco use is known to cause more health problems. So quit to live healthier.


Log into your Diary

Log everything above into your persinal diabetes diary and take that with you, when you have plan for a appointment with your health care provider.

A Quick log may contains a Blood sugar record or log book, Record of foods eaten for 3 days before your appointment and you can ask your healthcare provider for more details about loogging your activites, tests and examinations.