People living with diabetes are always challenged to manage their health to protect themselves from the long-term and adverse effects of higher-than-normal blood sugar levels. It is understandable why some people might want to manage their diabetes on their own, considering how difficult living with diabetes can be. This is why we have put together some tips to make managing diabetes at home easier.
Monitor Blood Sugar Levels
Monitoring your blood sugar (glucose) levels is crucial for all diabetes patients. If your blood sugar is consistently too high, this might lead to long-term diabetic complications. Monitoring your blood sugar levels at home has become easier with the availability of finger prick test kits and blood glucose meters. You can purchase blood glucose meters through retailers who sell blood testing machines like The Medical Supermarket at medical-supermarket.com. They stock a wide range of high-quality and affordable blood glucose meters from leading manufacturers to help you keep an eye on your blood sugar levels.
Some insulin pumps also come with a blood glucose meter, and you can talk to your doctor so they can show you how to use the meter to keep an eye on your blood glucose levels. Your blood sugar levels will inform you whether you need to adjust your diet or when you eat. Monitoring should be one at least once a day, but your doctor can also advise that you do it several times during the day depending on your individual condition.
Follow the Right Diet and Exercise Plan
Diet and exercise are both important components of managing diabetes. An important part of a good diet and nutrition is preparing meals at the right time to avoid impulse meals. This helps prevent overeating and helps make managing weight and keeping blood sugar levels in check easier. Undereating can also be an issue, especially if you take other medications besides insulin.
Good exercise, especially aerobic exercise, is great for utilising the glucose in your blood and this can help keep it in check. Remember that getting into such a diet and exercise plan can be difficult for the first few weeks, but these first steps can help you get into a healthy lifestyle and habits.
Set a Medication and Insulin Schedule
To help you stay on track, especially for the first few weeks or months, it is important that you have a set schedule for taking your medication and insulin. Many people find it helpful to set an alarm so they can get into a routine. Remember that complications can arise if you do not stick to a set schedule. To make things easier, you can use a pill box for medication management. These boxes also help you notice if you miss medication.
Schedule Regular Doctor Visits
You still need to see a doctor even when you are managing your diabetes yourself. A doctor will look at how you are doing and help you make the necessary adjustments. They can also refer you to a nutritionist or dietician if they see you are not doing too well.
Managing diabetes at home can be challenging, especially during those first few weeks and months. The good news is that with proper planning and scheduling, it is possible to manage diabetes at home. Just be sure to see a doctor from time to time so they can ensure everything is going well.