Top 5 Things to Do

If your mind is swirling with thoughts of daily blood tests and boring food, then you have a way outdated concept of what it takes to manage your diabetes. Here are the five most important things to remember as you learn to handle your condition. 

1. Go to a diabetes educator.

Your teachers had it right when they said knowledge is power. The more you know about your disease, the more likely you are to be successful at managing it. Seek out a diabetes educator who will be able to provide you with specialized knowledge about your disease. Find an educator in your area through the American Association of Diabetes Educators.

2. Assemble a healthcare team.

A general practitioner is not the only medical professional a diabetic should have on hand. Proper diabetes management requires a dentist, podiatrist, registered dietitian and eye doctor. All of these professionals are vital to making sure you lead a healthy life with diabetes, and will guide you as you learn to check your blood-glucose levels and administer insulin if necessary.

3. Live a healthy lifestyle.

Along with your medication and daily blood-glucose checks, your doctor should be writing you a prescription for regular exercise and a healthy, low-sugar diet. These lifestyle changes can go a long way toward managing your diabetes.

4. Keep your sex life spicy.

Diabetes can take a toll on a couple’s relationship and sex life as a result of stress and symptoms of the disease. Diabetes sex expert Janis Roszler, author of Sex and Diabetes: For Him and For Her, says aromatherapy couples massages and communication games can help keep a diabetic’s sex life on track.

5. Stay positive and laugh a little!

It’s tough, but a healthy mental attitude will help make some of the difficult aspects of diabetes, like administering insulin and checking your blood sugar, that much easier. Lean on your healthcare team, friends and family members for support. And why not laugh a little? Diabetes expert Theresa Garnero says laughing can actually help to lower glucose and change your views on the disease.  Go have a tickle fest or watch a funny movie! Diabetes isn't as bad as you thought it would be!