You have probably heard about diabetes more than a thousand times, but do you know you may be at risk of developing the medical condition? Being overweight, physical inactivity, genetics, and age are just a few links to increasing your risk of diabetes. However, if you already have the condition, you may need new braunfels direct primary care to help you manage the condition and lead an active, healthy life. Diabetes management helps you determine what raises and lowers your blood sugar levels and how to control them. Here are a few factors you can work on to manage diabetes.
Food
While eating healthy encourages healthy living in everyone, you need to know about your diet and how it affects your blood sugar levels. You may have to know what food you eat, how much you eat, and how you can combine it with other foods. First, you must learn to count carbohydrates and use the correct portion for every food you eat. You can write down your food portions and then measure each with the correct carbohydrate count. Secondly, you must try as much as you can to balance every meal well. You can eat whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Also, coordinate your medications and meals. Lastly, avoid sugar-sweetened beverages as they may raise your blood sugar levels.
Exercise
During physical activity, your muscles will use glucose for energy, allowing your body to use insulin efficiently. Physical activities may range from strenuous to light to improve blood sugar levels. Your doctor may help you decide the appropriate type of exercise for you to help strengthen your muscle while improving your symptoms. During exercise, ensure you stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration that may affect blood sugar levels. Also, check your blood sugar levels before and after exercise while staying alert for warning signs.
Medication
Your doctor will recommend medications, dieting, and exercise to lower your blood sugar levels efficiently. However, the effectiveness of diabetes medications will depend on the timing and dosage size. Therefore, you must store insulin properly, as it may not be effective after expiration. Also, it would be best to report to your doctor if medications cause too low or too high blood sugar levels. Your doctor will adjust your timing and dosage appropriately. Lastly, talk to your doctor before taking new OTC medications. Learn about how they can impact your blood sugar levels before use.
Illness
Sickness may cause your body to produce hormones to fight the illness, raising blood sugar levels. Also, getting ill may cause appetite changes that complicate your diabetes management. Therefore, continue taking your diabetes medications and call your doctor. You can also drink plenty of fluids to keep you hydrated and sip sugar-sweetened beverages to prevent too low readings of your blood sugar levels.
Keeping your blood sugar levels stable may be challenging, but learning about the factors you can control can help you avoid significant changes in glucose levels. Diabetes management helps you continue living a healthy life even with diabetes and avoid further health complications. You may have to work alongside your doctor to choose a plan suitable to your needs and get help in case of concerns. Your management schedule will include meal plans, exercise schedules, and correct medication use to ensure effective management for a healthier life.
