Important steps to take on your own include:
• Examine your feet every day for any cuts, blisters, redness or swelling. If you have an injury, seek care early -- a small problem that's not treated quickly can easily lead to serious complications. Other prudent foot-care tips include washing and carefully drying your feet every day, keeping toenails trimmed as needed, wearing shoes and socks at all times and protecting feet from heat and cold. If you have any numbness of the feet, make sure that someone else helps examine your feet carefully and trims your toenails.
• Check your blood sugar according to the doctor's recommendation. Keeping your blood-sugar levels under control is critical for preventing a wide variety of complications.
• Take care of your skin. Up to one-third of people with diabetes experience skin disorders, such as infections. Skin self-care includes keeping skin clean and dry; not bathing or showering in extremely hot water; avoiding bubble baths and scented soaps; and preventing dry skin by using a moisturizing skin cream.
• Manage your oral health. People with diabetes have an increased risk of oral infections and gum problems. To help prevent gum disease, brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily and visit your dentist at least twice a year.
Lifestyle changes
Most of the complications from diabetes are related to its damaging effects on blood vessels. That means anything you do that further damages your blood vessels -- such as smoking, not exercising or eating high-fat, high-calorie foods -- can significantly increase your health problems.
A healthful lifestyle for a person with diabetes includes:
• Eating healthful foods. Aim for a balanced diet low in fat, cholesterol and sugar. Work with a nutritionist, and particularly ask for help in developing meal plans and learning how to shop for groceries -- eating well becomes much easier if you have healthful foods at hand.
• Exercising regularly. Physical activity improves circulation and helps you manage weight and stress levels, among other important benefits. Talk with your health care provider about choosing the best fitness options for you.
• Losing weight. Obesity increases the body's resistance to insulin and contributes to heart disease, blood-vessel disease and many other health problems. By losing weight, many people with type 2 diabetes can decrease their diabetes medications. Ask your doctor or nutritionist for help in maintaining a sensible weight-loss program.
• Limiting or avoiding alcohol. Drinking alcohol makes it more difficult to control blood sugar. Alcohol can severely lower blood sugar in some people with diabetes, and it can interact with certain diabetes medications.
• Managing stress. Physical or mental stress tends to raise levels of adrenaline and stress hormones, which can throw off your blood-sugar levels. Find ways to limit sources of stress, and explore relaxation therapies.
• Quitting smoking. Smoking damages and constricts blood vessels and raises the risk of nerve damage and kidney disease -- making it one of the unhealthiest habits a person with diabetes can maintain.
Key to success
How do you make self-care go smoothly? Make it a habit.
No comments:
Post a Comment