Here are four key steps to help you control your diabetes and live a long and active life:
Diabetes is a serious disease. It affects almost every part of the body. That is why a team of people may help you take care of your diabetes:
Talk to your health care team about your special needs work with your team to manage your diabetes.
Select a Step for controlling your diabetes below for more information
Diabetes is a serious disease. Ask your health care team what type of diabetes you have. Terms such as "a touch of diabetes" or "your sugar is a little high" suggest that diabetes is not a serious disease. That is not correct and these terms should not be used. Know why diabetes is serious.
All people with diabetes need to eat healthy foods, stay at a healthy weight, and be active every day. Taking good care of diabetes will help you feel better and avoid the health problems diabetes can cause such as:
When your diabetes is in good control, you are more likely to feel better and
Manage your A 1C (blood glucose or sugar), blood pressure, and cholesterol. This will help lower your chances of having a heart attack, a stroke, or other diabetes problems. These are called the ABCs of diabetes.
Ask your health care team:
Use My Diabetes Care Card to write down your numbers.
Many people avoid the long-term problems of diabetes by taking good care of themselves and the ABCs of diabetes. Work with your health care team, friends, and family to make healthy lifestyle choices and reach your ABC goals.
Work with your health care team to manage your diabetes and stay healthy.
If you have Medicare Part B, ask your health care team how to get some of the cost paid for learning about diabetes self-care, special shoes, if you need them.
See your health care team at least twice a year to find and treat problems early. Follow this plan.
At each visit get a:
Two times each year get:
Once each year get a:
At least once get a: