4 Lifestyle Tips for People with Diabetes

4 Lifestyle Tips for People with Diabetes

1. Take care of your feet.

Foot problems such as calluses are more common and develop more quickly in people who have type 2 diabetes. With daily foot care, you can keep calluses from building. Check your feet every day for blisters, cuts, sores, redness and swelling. Consult your doctor if you have a sore or another foot problem that doesn’t heal promptly on its own.

2. Get your eyes checked.

Get a yearly full eye exam with dilated pupils. Your eye care specialist will check for signs of retina damage, cataracts and glaucoma. It is important to pick up these problems early. Ask for a copy of your eye exam results and share it with your primary care physician during your next visit.

3. Schedule your next routine diabetes appointment.

Ask your doctor how often you should be seen for your diabetes. At your visit, your doctor will assess your diabetes control by looking at your blood sugar log and ordering an A1c test, which gives a picture of your blood sugar over the past 60 to 90 days. Your providers will also check your blood pressure, your weight and your feet. Also at least once a year, you should have your urine checked for kidney problems and your cholesterol checked for heart disease.

4. Make healthy choices.

Eating healthy foods (in the right amounts) and exercising regularly can go a long way toward helping control your diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise—such as brisk walking—five days a week. The American Diabetes Association also recommends that people with diabetes should avoid sitting more than 90 minutes at a time.

Learn All You Can About Diabetes

Parrish Medical Center (PMC) believes that diabetes self-management is an important part of diabetes care.

Services are provided by registered nurses and dietitians who are certified diabetes educators. For more information, call the PMC Diabetes Education Department at 321-268-6699.