The effects of diabetes on a health care provider can mean the difference between life and death. This is one of the reasons it is imperative that if you are diabetic you take responsibility for your own health care. You will be held responsible by your doctor for everything that happens, good and bad. This is not the case with a person who is not diabetic. No one is responsible for anything when they are diabetic unless they choose to exercise that responsibility.
Diabetes has the potential to cause serious damage to almost every system in the body. The damage can result in death. It is important to take responsibility for your own health care and to consult your doctor on a regular basis. You should ask your doctor when it is safe to eat and drink, ask if there are any changes to your medication, if there are any changes to your blood glucose levels, how your blood pressure is doing, and other important health questions you should ask your doctor. You should ask your doctor for any medical testing supplies you may need as well as a list of doctors. If you are not satisfied with your doctor’s answers, ask another doctor for another consultation.
In addition to your doctor, you should also maintain a list of who you should talk to and what you should ask. Write everything down so you can refer to it when your doctor isn’t available or willing to answer your questions. You should also check online before you leave the house so you can get answers to your questions before you go to the doctor. Keep a journal to document the information you get from your doctor and other sources. Write down questions you are hoping to be answered. Be proactive.
The complications from diabetes can lead to other conditions such as stroke, heart attack, kidney disease, nerve damage, blindness, foot problems and more. The longer you are diabetic the more likely you are to suffer one or more of these complications. Your doctor may never mention these complications to you, or say they are unlikely as a result of your blood glucose control. It is very difficult to discuss complications and other issues with a diabetic unless you are a diabetic yourself. If you are a diabetic and not aware of your blood glucose levels, you may be inducing an irregularity that will lead to an unanticipated complication. If you are diabetic and have an unexplained problem, your doctor may not know what to address you with so you are left wondering why you are not improving your health or controlling your blood glucose levels.
You can avoid or reduce the effects of a multitude of problems by keeping your blood glucose levels in check. Follow the tips below to ensure that you have a healthy life.
Check your blood glucose every two hours
When you take your oral anti diabetic medicines, make sure you check your blood glucose levels as often as the first thing in the morning and before supper. Don’t forget to test after breakfast and lunch also.
Do an insulin self test
You may require insulin treatment if your blood glucose levels have dropped too low. Before you go to bed, inject an amount of insulin that is equal to 1/2 of your recommended dose. It may help to create a written record of this dose. Tell your doctor the information you have about your medications and food intake. Also tell your doctor how often you do this type of test. Make sure that your testing kit has the correct test strips and monitor. Also make sure your test strips are ready to use. Do the test as directed by your doctor.
Meal planning and healthy snacks
Your dietitian will tell you how many carbohydrates to include in your meals. You may need to adjust your meals to compensate for the effects of food being fast-acting insulin or slow-acting insulin. Also, remember that some foods contain little or no insulin, which may give you a low blood glucose reading. These foods include all foods in the corn family, including sunflower, pumpkin, sweet corn, cowpea, legumes (kidney beans, chickpeas), oil sunflower and lentils.
In order to do your job correctly, your meal planner will include information about carbohydrate and fat content. Make sure your plan includes low-GI carbohydrates such as whole grain breads, cereals, pasta, grains and rice. It should also include lean protein such as meat and fish. The amount of protein should be appropriate for your lifestyle.
The amount of carbohydrates should be limited, but there is no need to cut them completely out. Remember that a portion of carbohydrates should be eaten at every meal. As you were taught in primary school, it’s best to eat 60% of your carbohydrates at every meal.
You may need to take insulin injections, but you should do it only as prescribed by your doctor. There is no need to take more insulin than your doctor instructs.
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