Dealing with Diabetes Without Affecting Your Quality of Life

Diabetes is a type of disease that affects the regulation of sugar or glucose levels in your body. Normally, our bodies are able to process the glucose that we get from food with the help of a hormone called insulin.

Through insulin, our body can turn glucose into energy that we use to function properly in our day to day lives.

Individuals with diabetes are unable to properly process the glucose in their bodies due to their body’s inability to manage the right insulin levels. People with Type 1 diabetes are unable to produce any insulin at all, while people with Type 2 diabetes don’t respond to the insulin their body produces.

Left unchecked, this can lead to high levels of glucose in the body. High glucose levels can lead to serious complications like stroke and seizures, as well as organ and nerve damage.

Having diabetes can often be a cause for a poor quality of life, but that does not always have to be the case. If you or a family member has diabetes, it’s important to know how to deal with it properly.

Be informed

As the primary manager of your own health, it’s important to know what you are going to be dealing with on a day to day basis.

Speaking with your treatment specialist for tips on how to deal with your diabetes is one of the best ways to stay healthy despite your condition.

Researching the illness, staying updated on any advancements in the treatment of diabetes, or even talking to others who have the same condition can be very helpful in providing you with a wealth of information on how to deal with diabetes.

Be prepared

Living with diabetes does not always mean that danger is always afoot, but it’s best to be prepared for any unwanted surprises.

Having I.C.E. or “In Case of Emergency” contact numbers on your phone can help emergency responders contact someone close to you if you are unconscious or unable to respond.

Having an emergency shot or two of insulin is important, especially if you are out and about.

If you are taking care of a loved one who has diabetes, it might be a good idea to take some CPR and first aid classes like the ones offered on www.lifesavered.com — you never know when you might need to step in while medical help is arriving.

Eat healthy

Because your body is unable to properly regulate glucose which it gets from the food you eat, switching to a meal plan that can help you manage the amount of glucose you introduce to your body is very important. Managing what you eat and how much of it you eat is important.

People with Type 1 diabetes, for example, need to know how much insulin to take after eating a specific kind of food, while people with Type 2 diabetes may need to manage their weight via a low-calorie meal plan.

Talk to someone

Managing an illness like diabetes on top of managing your daily routine can take a toll on your mental health over time. Manage your stress levels by engaging in meditation exercises or activities that help you relax.

If you need to, find a mental health counselor who can help you work through the emotions you feel about your condition, or join a support group for people with diabetes. The important thing is that you ask for help when you need it.

Living with diabetes does not have to mean that you will be suffering for your entire life. By keeping these pointers in mind, you can still enjoy life despite having a chronic illness like diabetes.