Diabetes is a disease in which glucose builds up in the blood and overflows into the urine. People with diabetes must take an active role in treatment. It is important to keep blood sugar levels low by eating healthy meals and exercising regularly. Diabetics should also take all medicines as instructed. Failure to take medicine as directed may result in even higher blood sugar levels. For smokers, it is absolutely imperative that they stop smoking before continuing any diabetes treatment. Complications from diabetes include high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, blindness, neuropathy and kidney failure.
Effective diabetes management should include the following components:
- Daily monitoring of your blood glucose
- Daily medications (insulin or pills)
- Nutritional meal planning and diet
- Exercise
- Routine A1C tests
- Regular visits to your doctor