Healthy Living

Being diagnosed of diabetes isn’t a Death Sentence! You can still reach your full health potentials, adding years to your lives and improving its quality.

Diabetics can live healthy lives when they take on the daily responsibilities of their own diabetes self-care. The five essential components of diabetes self-care are Diet, Exercise/Physical Activity, Medications, Monitoring, and Skin, Eye & Foot Care.

Diet: A balanced diet with a low fat content and a high fibre content aids control blood glucose in the body and also provides all the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. Diabetics should pay attention to the amount of fats and carbohydrates in their diet.

Exercise/Physical Activity: Regular physical activity (swimming, dancing, running, brisk walking) helps control weight and blood glucose, and reduces the risk of developing other chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases.

Medications: People with diabetes especially Type 2 diabetes need to take medications to control their blood glucose. Medications should be taken daily as prescribed by your health care provider. Changes in diet, physical activity level, or blood glucose control may require changes in your medications. Visit your health care provider regularly, especially if you have any changes in your lifestyle or blood glucose control.

Monitoring: Blood glucose monitoring is vital for controlling diabetes. Just as a car speedometer tells how fast or slow you are travelling, your blood glucose level tells how well you are maintaining your diabetes. Regular blood glucose control is monitored by the use of a glucose meter. Through home monitoring and regular visits with your health care provider, you can keep track of your blood sugar level, blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight.

Skin, Eye & Foot Care: Diabetes can have multiple health implications (effects on your eye sight, your skin, feet and legs, and your heart) and since treating it can require special medications your health care team should include a number of medical professionals with various specialities. Your team can guide you to implement a comprehensive plan to treat diabetes and minimize its effects. Daily foot care should involve looking for sores or cuts, wearing comfortable shoes and socks, and taking care of your skin to prevent blisters, calluses, and cracks.