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Everything you need to know about diabetes management is in this section. Together with your health care team and information found here you'll have the tools to maintain your health. You will also find information here about diabetes complications.
Managing type 1 diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes is a life-long condition that requires proper management, including diet, medications, lifestyle choices, doctor visits, and monitoring the disease for complications. As such, managing type 1 diabetes can be challenging to both those who have it and the people who care for them.
Type 1 diabetes is managed with:
- Insulin replacement through lifelong injections or use of an insulin pump
- Regular monitoring of blood glucose levels and a good understanding of the what the values means
- Learning the symptoms of high and low blood sugar and how to manage both
- Following a healthy diet and eating plan
- Engaging in regular physical activity
- Keeping blood glucose levels as close to target range as possible
- Effective communication and follow-ups with your diabetes healthcare team
Managing type 2 diabetes:
The aim of management of type 2 diabetes is to keep blood sugar levels as close to the target range as possible, to prevent both short and long-term complications. While much of the day-to-day work comes from you, your healthcare team (doctor, specialists, dietitian, and pharmacist) are essential in proper management of your diabetes.
Tips to help manage type 2 diabetes include:
- Take your medications as prescribed
- Maintain a healthy and balanced diet, including non-starchy vegetables, fruits, whole-grains, and lean proteins. Avoid unhealthy fats, sugars, processed foods and simple carbohydrates.
- Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
- Engage in exercise daily
- Monitor your blood sugar and/or blood pressure at home, as indicated by your doctor
- Understand the potential complications from diabetes, and how to prevent and manage them
- Gain support from your family, friends, or community/online support groups
Managing blood sugar:
A main priority for people living with diabetes is managing blood sugar. It is important to ensure your blood sugar levels are within target, and to avoid both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.
It is important to check your blood sugar level, because it will:
- Determine if you have high or low blood sugar at a given time
- Show you how lifestyle, foods, exercise and medication affect your sugars
- Help you and your healthcare team make lifestyle and medication changes
Managing complications:
It takes work to get your diabetes under control, but it is definitely worth it. If diabetes is left untreated or improperly managed, diabetes can lead to several different complications.
Diabetes can affect nearly every organ in your body, including the:
