Unlike many health conditions, diabetes is managed mostly
by you, with support from your health care team:
- Primary care doctor
- Foot doctor
- Dentist
- Eye doctor
- Registered dietitian nutritionist
- Diabetes educator
- Pharmacist
Also ask your family, teachers, and other important people in your
life for help and support. Managing diabetes can be challenging, but
everything you do to improve your health is worth it!
You'll need to take insulin shots (or wear an insulin pump) every
day. Insulin is needed to manage your blood sugar levels and give
your body energy. You can't take insulin as a pill. That's because
the acid in your stomach would destroy it before it could get into
your bloodstream. Your doctor will work with you to figure out the
most effective type and dosage of insulin for you.
You'll also need to do
regular blood sugar checks. Ask your doctor how often you should
check it and what your target blood sugar levels should be. Keeping
your blood sugar levels as close to target as possible will help you
prevent or delay diabetes-related
complications.
Hypoglycemia and diabetic
ketoacidosis are common complications of diabetes, and you'll
need to know how to handle them. Meet with your doctor for
step-by-step instructions.
Stress is a part of life, but it can make managing diabetes harder.
Regular physical activity, getting enough sleep, and exercises to
relax can help. Talk to your doctor and diabetes educator about
these and other ways you can manage stress.
Healthy lifestyle habits are really important too:
- Making healthy
food choices
- Being physically
active
- Managing your blood
pressure
- Managing your cholesterol
Regular appointments with your health care team can help you stay on
track with your treatment plan and offer new ideas and strategies if
needed.