Diabetes isn’t a death sentence; it’s just a reason to pay closer attention to your body. And if you do things correctly and learn how to live with diabetes, you’ll be just fine! 

In light of that, we’ve prepared some tips for you to help you live a healthy and fulfilling life. So without further ado, let’s dive in! 

Know Your Illness 

Diabetes is not a one size shoe that fits all. There are three types of diabetes, and it’s imperative to set them apart when learning how to live with this condition. 

Type one diabetes is when your body doesn’t produce insulin. Insulin is what turns glucose (or sugar) into energy. A steady supply of insulin and its production are required to maintain a wholesome lifestyle; insulin is an everyday essential. 

Type two diabetes is the most common type. This is when your body doesn’t utilize or produce insulin very well. 

Gestational diabetes might be the rarest form of diabetes. It only happens to some women while they’re pregnant. 

It’s also a temporary form of the illness since usually, it passes once the baby is born. However, this form of diabetes increases the risk of the mothers and the children getting diabetes later in life. 

Not taking the illness seriously is a common mistake. You should consult your doctor, and listen to their insights and advice. 

You might even join a group of other patients. Being surrounded by people who are in a similar situation might help you adjust better. 

How to Live With Diabetes 

Once you accept the illness, you can learn to live with it. If you maintain proper blood sugar levels, then you’ll have more energy. 

This means your efficiency and proficiency could increase. You’ll also be less tired. Thirst won’t bother you as much either. 

Health problems might also lessen. You’re less likely to need to run to the bathroom frequently. You’ll also heal faster and won’t be susceptible to as many bladder infections. 

Diabetes could cause many health issues. Once you learn to manage your illness, you might avoid heart attacks or kidney problems. Your eyesight might also benefit because eye-related problems and loss of sight might happen to a diabetes patient. 

Keep Track of Your Sugar Levels 

Always be aware of your sugar levels. A blood test will give you concrete numbers, and those are important. You can visit the nearest lab for regular blood tests or contact the local phlebotomist. Moreover, if you are interested in becoming a phlebotomist then have a look at Phlebotomy Classes Online: Everything You Should Know.

If the number gets too high, it might become an issue. High sugar levels can damage your heart, kidneys, or even blood vessels. 

An A1C test will measure the blood sugar level over the past three months. This test is not something you need to take each day, but you’ll need to take it at specific periods. Consult your doctor on what they recommend for you. 

On the other hand, everyday tests are designed to keep personal track of your sugar levels. Alongside other medical supplies, you’ll also receive test strips, medication, or insulin pens. 

The strips can come in a big stack, but depending on your usage, you might need them all. There are plenty of places that sell diabetic test strips, so getting your hands on them should be easy enough.   

The insulin usually comes in the recommended dosage and might require refills. Take precautions to ensure you never run out of diabetes medicine, as being caught short could have disastrous consequences! 

You should also monitor your blood pressure, as it could overwork your heart, resulting in a heart attack or stroke. It’s advisable to be aware of your blood pressure and try to keep it in the norm. 

Lifestyle Changes 

Learning how to live with diabetes might prompt specific changes. One of the most important things is to change your dietary habits. 

The wrong meals might affect your sugar levels. While there aren’t explicitly forbidden foods, you should focus on more fruits, vegetables, and grains. 

You can eat meat and dairy products, but keep the carb intake in mind. Carbs can turn into sugar, and a meal with plenty of them might be hard for your body to handle. Try to keep a similar carb intake at every meal, as this helps to create regularity for your body. 

Invest time in exercising. You may jog, ride a bike, or even walk. A gym is also an option if your doctor permits it. Any activity should take about half an hour on average, and leave you breathing slightly harder. 

But be sure not to overexert yourself. The proper exercise will bring your blood pressure down, as well as help you lose some weight or keep you in shape. Chances of heart problems will also lessen. 

If you feel that problems like dysphagia (trouble swallowing medicinal pills) are deterring you from taking your diabetes medications, you can always take help from a medication swallowing gel. For diabetes patients, it is essential that they look for swallowing gels that do not have any sugar in them. Youi can ask your doctor for what he or she recommends, so that you have a better idea of what to proceed with.

Other Tips 

If you want to understand how to live with diabetes and adjust accordingly, frequent health checkups are recommended. 

We all know visiting a doctor isn’t the best of pastimes. But unfortunately, diabetes increases the probability of other diseases. So it’s wise to visit your doctor at least twice a year for a general checkup. 

The doctor will do all the necessary tests, including the A1C. Let the professionals check your eyesight each year. 

The same goes for foot checkups and nerve exams. You have to remember that diabetes is not a stand-alone illness. You have to take care of yourself with extra attention. 

Stress is another health hazard. If you’re stressed, the chances of high sugar levels in the blood increase. 

You might not want to exercise or will even forget to take your medication. This can result in serious problems. So find an activity that helps you to relieve stress and include it in your routine. 

If you smoke or drink, consider leaving those habits in the past. Smoking can cause several health issues, but as a diabetes patient, you’re more susceptible to diseases. You can avoid heart and lung problems by quitting smoking. 

Alcohol can mess up your blood sugar levels. Drinking is not outright forbidden, but you have to keep in mind that alcohol can make your sugar levels too high or too low. 

The American Diabetes Association recommends no more than one drink per day for women and two for men. 

Prevention 

While we cannot truly prevent diabetes, you can still regulate your eating and habits. While the probability of diseases increases with diabetes,  there are specific steps you can take to avoid some of them. 

Let’s start with the risk of stroke. If you find yourself having trouble speaking or seeing, experience dizziness, if your face or limbs become numb or you feel weakness on one side of the body, you might want to contact your doctor. A stroke specialist might help you with prevention or remedial treatment. 

Another issue might be nerve damage. As a diabetes patient, you might experience nerve-related problems. 

This can make parts of your body numb. And while some might think it’s not a big deal, there can be little wounds, sores, or dull redness in the numb area. 

If you start experiencing numbness, check your body thoroughly and often. Remember that diabetes can hinder fast healing, so even tiny wounds can be a problem. 

Skin problems fall into the same category. If left untreated, you might catch an infection, and if you have type two diabetes, your blood sugar levels can get high. 

This makes infection set in faster because bacteria grows quicker. Once again, the way to prevent these issues is to keep up-to-date with your body. Do not think that your diet is all that’s needed to keep yourself healthy. 

Starting a Family 

Finally, you might want to start a family. And there are steps to ensure diabetes won’t interfere with the process. 

The most important thing is to consult your doctor. They’ll check your blood levels and make sure they’re steady. They’ll also give other relevant pointers, such as weight or health hazards. 

As you learn how to live with diabetes, you should take extra precautions to help your future children as well. Consider counseling to help you get in the right state of mind, make sure to lose any toxic habits, and always measure your blood sugar levels. 

For the first few weeks after conception, the baby might not be detected. This means you have to keep to the regiment of a healthy diet because high blood sugar might cause complications for both you and the baby. 

You might also need to retire from the diabetes pills as they could harm the child, especially during the last three months. You’ll also need more insulin during your pregnancy, but don’t worry, your doctor should adjust all this for you. 

Are You Ready to Start Living a Healthy Life as a Diabetic? 

We hope this article has given you a better idea of how to live with diabetes. With the right lifestyle changes and precautions, you’ll be living a healthy and fulfilling life in no time. 

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Author: Mandy Kloppers

Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.