Diabetes Management Diabetes Self Care
Diabetes Self Care information guide on the golden rules of diabetes management and diabetes self care to keep blood glucose level under control for good diabetic health

Diabetes Management and Diabetes Self Care

Essentially, good diabetes management and diabetes self care focuses on three major approaches to diabetes treatment :

• healthy diabetic diet plan
• healthy diabetic diet and diabetes medication
• healthy diabetic diet and insulin injection

Exactly which approach is most beneficial for you will depend on what type of diabetes you have, your weight, age and your blood glucose level.  Regular exercise makes an important difference to all people with diabetes, your well being and good health.

Two other important diabetes self care guidelines to keep you fit and in good health are :

• regular monitoring of blood glucose levels to help you get to know your body and how it is coping with diabetes 
• regular visits to your doctor, dietitian, diabetes nurse - your diabetes care management partners in ongoing healthcare

Golden Rules for Diabetes Self Care Management

The way to keep healthy now and in the future is to follow these golden rules of good diabetes management and diabetes self care :

1  Diabetes Education - Understanding  diabetes, diabetes treatment and how to manage it

Asks questions on diabetes.  Don't be shy to keep on asking until you are entirely satisfied that you understand your diabetes treatment and know what to do to manage it.

When seeing your doctor, dietitian or diabetes nurse, sit down before your visit and write out all your questions and concern on diabetes treatment.  Take your list with you and go through it item by item.

Make sure your understand exactly what the prescribed diabetes treatment is supposed to do and exactly how to follow it.  Take along a friend or partner to help you remember what was said.

2  Diabetes Control - Keeping your blood glucose level under control

The best way of keeping blood glucose level under control is by eating healthy and eating sensibly, exercising regularly and taking your diabetes medication correctly.

Check you blood glucose levels regularly with home blood glucose monitor and have your doctor or nurse do this at regular intervals.

3  Diabetic Diet Plan - If your are overweight, watch your diet and make losing weight a goal

If you are overweight, you need to lose weight.  You need to make sure that you choose a healthy diabetic diet plan and eat fewer calories than your body burns up.

Keep a careful watch on what you eat, it is all a matter of balance.  You need to eat just enough to fuel your body through its normal daily routine.

Concentrate on eating healthy food that provide your body with enough nutrients to keep it functioning perfectly and continue to choose a healthy low fat diet to lose weight.

Remember, you can keep to a healthy low fat diabetic diet plan and still enjoy varied, delicious and tasty meals.

4  Diabetes and Exercise - Be as physically active as possible

Keep in mind your age, general health and your ability to exercise.

Simply taking a brisk walk round the block twice a day can keep you fit.  You may prefer to swim a few laps, play bowls or tennis, ride your bicycle or walk to the local shops instead of driving.

Whatever exercise you choose and whatever level of physical activity you find most comfortable, make regular exercise a regular part of your life.

The benefits of regular exercise are immense for good diabetic health and diabetes management.