Managing Your Diabetes:
Managing Your Diabetes:Reducing RisksPage 1 of 3Jasmine Gonzalvo, Pharmacist, Diabetes Educator, Purdue UniversityWorking with a diabetes educator to help support you eating healthy, staying active, monitoring your bloodsugar, taking medication and finding healthy ways to cope and problem solve can help you reduce the risksof diabetes complications.NarratorBethany Maranowicz has lived with diabetes for years, so many aspects of managing the disease, such aschecking her blood sugar, are just a part of everyday life.Bethany Maranowicz, Diabetes PatientChecking your blood sugar regularly and writing it down and communicating to your doctor about that reallyhelps with kind of developing a sense of what my lifestyle does to my blood sugar and how I need tochange things, if need be.NarratorBethany is so in tune with her body that she knows exercise, even the type of exercise she does, can makea difference.Bethany Maranowicz, Diabetes PatientRunning will drop my blood sugar quite a bit more than maybe walking or doing yoga. So it’s good for me todevelop patterns in when I exercise and making sure I check myself before and afterwards, and thennoticing how different exercises can affect my blood sugar differently.NarratorReducing risks also means regular medical tests and checkups for Bethany including the eye doctor andthe dentist.Bethany Maranowicz, Diabetes PatientAnd then making sure just at home that I’m doing self-care for my feet, important for a diabetic to checkyour feet regularly, to make sure you have good sensation and you’re not missing any kind of sores or cuts,or anything like that.NarratorThere are several things you can do to help reduce your risks and avoid other health problems: Don’t smoke: People with diabetes who smoke are three times more likely to die of heart disease orstroke than those who don’t. Smoking raises your blood sugar and weakens your body’s ability torespond to insulin. Besides harming your lungs and heart, it can make vision problems developfaster, too. See your doctor regularly: Your doctor will want to see you about every three months, to check yourweight, blood pressure, feet and eyes. You might have tests to check your kidneys, cholesterol andaverage blood sugar levels. Keep a record of each test and know what your targets are. Be sure toget a flu shot every year, too. Visit the eye doctor at least once a year: and make sure the exam includes dilating your pupils. See your dentist every 6 months: because diabetes puts you at higher risk of cavities and gumdisease. And don’t forget to brush and floss regularly. Keep your feet dry and clean: Wear comfortable shoes and check your feet every day. Diabetesdamages your nerves so you might not be able to feel it if you have a sore. If you find anything, letyour healthcare provider know right away.Cecilia Sauter, Diabetes Educator, University of MichiganBe aware that more than half of the people with diabetes can suffer from sleep apnea. If you snore loudly orfeel sluggish during the day, ask your diabetes educator to screen you for sleep apnea.Page 2 of 3NarratorThe bottom line is you have to know your body, and your diabetes, in order to keep yourself healthy.Bethany Maranowicz, Diabetes PatientIf there was a cure someday, it would be strange for me to be able to let go of all these little responsibilitiesthat I have.NarratorReducing Risks. One of 7 steps to a healthier you.© American Association of Diabetes Educators and The Wellness NetworkPage 3 of 3
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