One of the frustrating things about diabetes is that there’s no cure. There’s no moment when you can say, “That’s it, I’m done”. The business of managing symptoms and risk has to continue every single day.
Every day, there are a series of checks that a person with diabetes has to carry out to ensure their diabetes is still under control. Most obviously, this involves monitoring their blood glucose levels. It also includes things like checking feet for signs of infection. Other checkups can take place on a regular schedule of weeks or months apart.
Diabetes also means paying even more attention to the things everyone has to think about, like diet. We all have to plan our meals, but for diabetics, it’s extra important. They need to know what’s likely to increase their blood sugar and how to schedule their food in relation to their medication.
Exercise is another thing that impacts your blood sugar. It tends to get lower after a workout, partly because you’ve been using glucose to fuel your movement and partly because it can make insulin work more efficiently. If you’re exercising every day (as is generally recommended), you’re going to need to work it around your diabetes management.
All of these daily aspects of living with diabetes can be discussed with your doctor. They’ll be best placed to help you calculate what’s best for you. Your daily routine can be tailored to ensure you receive all the nutrients and exercise you need without risking a diabetic incident. You also need to keep monitoring your blood sugar around meals and exercise sessions.
If you do have a diabetes-related emergency, you need to be prepared. That means taking snacks with you wherever you go in case you need a sugar boost, as well as properly storing and carrying any medication. Other basics, like staying hydrated, are essential. A medical alert bracelet can help make sure other people are aware of your diabetes even if you’re in no condition to tell them.
These are just some of the daily aspects of diabetes management. In the long term, you may need to consider how other illnesses or hormone changes can impact your condition. You may experience other complications. But here and now, it all begins with the basics, which you need to remember every single day.
