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Your health care team and you
need a team of pros working together to provide support and
professional advice, but it's up to you to follow through.
As they say in the Navy "you have the con" or something like
that.
Make a commitment to
managing your diabetes. Learn all you can about Type 2
Diabetes. Ask your health care team for help if your best
efforts aren't enough to control your blood sugar.
Schedule a yearly
physical. It's important to have a thorough physical
exam every year in addition to your regular diabetes
checkups. Check for complications of diabetes and screen for
conditions such as cardiovascular and kidney diseases.
Schedule a yearly eye
exam. Make sure your eye care specialist knows you have
diabetes. He or she should check for signs of retinal damage
and cataracts and test you for glaucoma.
Take good care of your
teeth and gums. People with type 2 diabetes are prone to
gum infections. Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a
day, and schedule twice-a-year dental cleanings.
Keep your vaccinations
current. Because high blood sugar can weaken your immune
system, you may be more likely to get influenza or
pneumonia. Get a yearly flu shot and vaccinations for
pneumonia and hepatitis B.
Take care of your feet.
Diabetes can damage nerves in your feet, which reduces your
ability to feel pain. You may develop a cut or other injury
without realizing it. And because diabetes reduces blood
flow to your feet, it's harder for sores to heal. To help
prevent foot problems, check your feet every day for
blisters, cuts, and bruises, cracked or peeling skin, and
redness or swelling.
Don't smoke. People
with diabetes who smoke are three times as likely to die of
cardiovascular disease or stroke as are nonsmokers. Smoking
also increases the risk of nerve damage and kidney disease.
Talk to your doctor about ways to quit smoking.
Avoid alcohol.
Alcohol prevents the release of glucose from your liver and
can increase the risk of your blood sugar falling too low.
If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so only in moderation.
It also helps to eat first.
Take a daily aspirin.
Taking an aspirin every day after age 40 may reduce your
risk of heart attack. There are risks too so talk with your
doctor to make sure aspirin is safe for you and, if so,
which strength you should take.
Monitor your blood
pressure. If you have diabetes, you're twice as likely
to develop high blood pressure as you'd be if you didn't
have the disease. The risk for blacks and Hispanics is even
higher. The combination of diabetes and high blood pressure
is serious because both conditions can damage your blood
vessels, increasing your risk of heart attack, stroke and
other life-threatening conditions. The blood pressure goal
for most people with diabetes is less than 130/80
millimeters of mercury.
Monitor your cholesterol.
Unhealthy levels of cholesterol and triglycerides can cause
cardiovascular disease in anyone, with type 2 diabetes or
without. But as with high blood pressure, the damage is
usually worse and more rapid when you have diabetes. Your
targets: LDL below 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) —
perhaps as low as 70 mg/dL if you have other heart disease
risk factors; HDL 60 mg/dL or above; triglycerides below 150
mg/dL.
Learn to manage stress.
Constantly dealing with stress can make it more difficult to
take care of yourself and manage your diabetes. You may find
yourself eating all the wrong foods or forgetting to
exercise or take your medications. And prolonged stress can
cause your blood sugar levels to rise even if you stick to
your diet and medication plan. To manage stress, consider
techniques such as yoga, meditation, tai chi or
deep-breathing exercises.
Do your best to stay positive.
Diabetes is a serious illness, but it can be controlled. If
you're willing to do your part, you can continue to enjoy an
active and healthy life.
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