TAKE CARE
Taking very good care of yourself is important when you have diabetes. In addition to eating healthful meals and exercising, you also need to take special care of your feet, skin, teeth and eyes. High blood sugar levels can have a damaging effect on these and other organs in your body. By controlling your blood sugar and taking precautions, you can help prevent long-term problems. Learn your body’s warning signs, and know how to treat those symptoms.
Finally, maintain open communication with your health care provider and educate yourself about the things you can do to help control the disease and prevent complications.
Other things to remember
Check your feet every day for redness, swelling, corns, calluses, ingrown toenails or breaks in the skin.
- Bathe every day with mild soap and lukewarm water.
- Treat a skin injury quickly, and call your doctor if it doesn’t heal.
- Brush twice and floss once every day; see your dentist at least every 6 months.
- Have a complete dilated eye examination every year.>
When to call your doctor
- You are vomiting and unable to keep down foods, liquids or diabetes pills.
- Your illness lasts longer than a few days and you aren't getting better.
- Ketones are present in your urine.
- All blood sugars are higher than 240 mg/dL for more than one day.
Normal blood sugar levels
Studies show that keeping your blood sugar as close to the normal range as possible may prevent these long-term effects. Your doctor can monitor how well your blood sugar is controlled over time using a blood test called hemoglobin A1C.
The American Diabetes Association recommends that your A1C level be less than 7 percent.
Do you know what your level is currently?
One of the main goals of treating diabetes is to keep your blood sugar level as close to normal as possible. The following blood sugar guidelines are recommended for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Before
meals
Between 90 and 130
mg/dL (milligrams of sugar for every 10 ml. of blood)
1-2 hours after meals
100-180 mg/dL
Your guidelines may be different from these. Your health care team will help you set the blood sugar range that is right for you. By keeping your blood sugar close to normal, you will feel much better and may protect yourself from serious problems.