Diabetes

Treatment and Management:
Staying Healthy

General Tips
To stay healthy with diabetes:

• Follow your meal plan.
• Follow your exercise or activity routine.
• Take medications as directed.
• Test your blood glucose regularly; test more often when you are sick.
• Keep blood glucose as close to normal as possible (80 to 140 milligrams glucose per deciliter blood [mg/dL] or a glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) level of less than 7 percent).
• Keep blood pressure near normal (under 130/80 millimeters of mercury [mm Hg]).
• Keep blood fats (cholesterol and triglycerides) near normal (under 200 mg/dL).
• Do not smoke.
• Avoid drinking alcohol.
• Lose excess weight.
• Check your feet and skin daily.
• Plan ahead for safe travel.
• Brush and floss your teeth daily.
• Visit a dentist twice each year.
• Get a flu shot every year.
• See your doctor regularly for blood tests, urine tests, foot exams, dilated-eye exams, and blood pressure checks.
• Ask your doctor if you should get a pneumonia vaccine.
• Meet often with your diabetes educator, dietitian, and other members of your health care team.
• Continually update your diabetes education.

 
Skin Care
Diabetes may lead to skin problems that range from itching to infections that are hard to control. Take good care of your skin every day to lessen your chances for having such problems.

• Bathe daily with mild soap and lukewarm water.
• Use a small amount of moisturizing lotion while the skin is moist.
• Avoid scratches, punctures, and other injury.
• Wear gloves when you do work that may injure your hands (e.g. gardening).
• Use sunscreen and good sense to avoid sunburn.
• Prevent frostbite by dressing warmly and avoid being outside in very cold weather for long periods of time.
• Treat injuries quickly. Wash all cuts and scrapes with soap and water. Cover them with a dry, sterile bandage.
• Call your doctor if a cut or scrape does not heal in a day or two or if you notice any signs of infection, such as redness, warmth, swelling, throbbing pain, or pus.

 
Foot Care
Special foot care is necessary when you have diabetes. Poor circulation, nerve damage, and trouble fighting infections can make foot problems very serious. You can help prevent major foot problems by following a daily routine of checking and caring for your feet.

• Check your feet daily.
• Look at tops and bottoms. Use a mirror if necessary, or have a family member check for you.
• Look for cuts, scratches, cracks, calluses or blisters.
• Look for changes in color, temperature or shape.
• Call your doctor if you notice any of these problems. Your doctor may want you to see a foot doctor (podiatrist).
• Wash your feet daily with mild soap and lukewarm (90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit [F]) water.
• Do not soak (this may cause dryness).
• Dry feet well, especially between toes.
• Use foot powder if your feet sweat.
• Take care of your toenails.
• Cut toenails straight across, not into corners, then smooth with an emery board.
• Cut nails after bathing, when they are soft.
• Do not cut your own toenails if you have difficulty seeing or your nails are too thick -- get them trimmed by a podiatrist.
• Protect your feet.
• Wear comfortable leather or canvas shoes that fit well. Do not continue to wear shoes that may have caused a callus or a blister.
• Break in new shoes slowly, an hour or two at a time.
• Do not go barefoot, even indoors.
• Wear clean socks/stockings every day. Cotton or wool socks are the most comfortable.
• Never use sharp tools, chemicals, or foot soaks to remove corns or calluses. Have a podiatrist do this for you.
• Exercise daily to help circulation. Do foot exercises.
• Do not smoke.
• Keep feet warm but avoid heating pads or hot water bottles, which may burn the skin.
• Do not wear garters or stockings with elastic tops.
• Take off your shoes and socks every time you see your doctor or diabetes educator to remind him or her to examine your feet.

 
Dental Care
High blood glucose may increase your risk for tooth and gum problems. Good daily care at home and regular dental checkups can prevent these problems.

• Brush and floss daily.
• See your dentist every six months.
• Tell your dentist you have diabetes.
• If you have dentures, remove and massage gums daily. Tell your dentist if your dentures are too loose or too tight.
  

 
Eye Care
High blood glucose may damage the blood vessels in the retina of the eye, causing retinopathy. Retinopathy has NO symptoms in the early, most treatable stages. The only way to detect this type of damage is by having an exam through "dilated" pupils (the use of medicated drops in your eyes to make the pupil larger).

People with diabetes also have an increased risk of getting glaucoma and cataracts. You can reduce your risk of developing eye problems or slow down the damage by doing the following:

• Have a complete dilated-eye exam every year.
• Notify your doctor or ophthalmologist (a medical doctor who specializes in eye care) if you have any of these symptoms: blurred or double vision, narrowed field of vision, seeing dark spots, pressure or pain around the eyes, or difficulty seeing in dim light.
• Have your blood pressure checked often.
• Do not smoke.
  

 
Travel Tips
Diabetes doesn’t have to stop you from going anywhere you want. By taking a few extra steps and planning ahead, you can be assured of a safer, more relaxed trip.

• Always carry and wear your diabetes identification.
• Stay as close as you can to your regular schedule for meals, exercise, and medication.
• Keep all medications, insulin, syringes, blood testing equipment and some form of fast-acting sugar (to treat a low blood sugar) handy -- in your carry-on luggage if you are traveling by plane.
• Carry at least one extra week of supplies and a prescription for each item.
• Insulin should be stored in a refrigerator, but not in the freezer. (If refrigeration is not possible, keep the insulin as cool as possible (below 86 degrees F).
• Keep insulin away from heat and light.
• Protect test strips (for blood glucose testing) from extremes of heat or cold.
• Keep food and snacks handy. Meals may be delayed for reasons you cannot control.
• Plan ahead for changes in mealtimes (especially when crossing two or more time zones). Plan times for testing your blood sugar. Discuss with your doctor if you may need to adjust your medication dose or timing.
• Ask your doctor about medicine for possible vomiting or diarrhea.
• Find out where to obtain emergency medical help where you will be traveling.