3 tips to manage your Diabetes

On 14 November, we celebrate World Diabetes Day through the theme ‘Early action on diabetes’. While it is far better if you know the signs, your risks and act early, for people already living with diabetes, our nursing team is here every day.

Diabetes causes high blood sugar (glucose) levels because the body either cannot make enough insulin or cannot use insulin properly.

Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes, representing 85–90 per cent of all diabetes cases and usually develops in adults over 45 years.¹

Symptoms include: feeling tired and thirsty; blurred vision; numbness or pain in your hands or feet; frequently going to the toilet; and having wounds that heal slowly.

The other main types of diabetes are: Type 1 which is an autoimmune condition that develops suddenly, often in childhood; and Gestational Diabetes during pregnancy.

Whatever the type, finding diabetes early means getting the right care sooner.

Here are 3 tips for managing Type 2 diabetes from our nursing team.

1. EAT HEALTHY FOOD

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to the normal effects of insulin and gradually loses the capacity to produce enough insulin in the pancreas.

It can often be managed through lifestyle modifications. This includes managing your body weight and blood glucose levels (BGLs) through healthy eating and exercise.²

To help manage your diabetes choose more whole, unprocessed foods, with a strong focus on including all food groups.

The 5 food groups include:

• vegetables and beans or legumes
• fruit
• wholegrain foods, such as, breads, cereals, rice and pasta
• lean meat, fish, poultry, tofu and nuts
• milk, yoghurt, cheese or non-dairy, calcium fortified plant alternatives.

Everyone’s needs are different. Some people living with diabetes are able to manage at home, while some may choose to engage with an accredited practising dietician or other allied health services, in conjunction with their General Practitioner (GP) for tailored advice.

2. EXERCISE REGULARLY

Everyone benefits from regular exercise. If you have diabetes, exercise plays an important role in keeping you healthy.³

For good health, most people should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity every day. This will vary from person to person given your individual abilities so aim to start with walking and then increase as you are able. Check in with your GP along the way to make sure you are not overdoing it.

You may choose to do this all at once or split it up into shorter bouts of 10–15 minutes.

Finding motivation to exercise could be as simple as joining a friend, planning ahead, keeping a diary, having role models and rewarding yourself.

3. MONITOR BLOOD GLUCOSE

To live well with diabetes, it’s important to monitor, record and understand your blood glucose levels (BGLs).⁴

It often involves performing a finger prick for an immediate BGL, and guidance on whether to seek medical assistance. Some people living with diabetes may also have a reader and/or pump that helps to continuously monitor their BGLs.

The number of times a day you check your BGLs will depend on what type of treatment you are taking, for example, insulin.

Your diabetes team can advise when and how often to monitor, such as, upon waking, before a meal, 2 hours after a meal, and overnight.

Keeping your BGLs as close as possible to your target range, will likely help to prevent diabetes complications.⁵

Complications associated with all types of diabetes include nerve damage to your feet, kidney and gum disease, reduced eye sight, and high blood pressure.