It is important, throughout the course of your diabetes, to seek education and stay current on methods of managing your diabetes. Meeting with a Certified Diabetes Educator can allow the person living with diabetes to feel like they are in control of the disease through proper meal planning, activity, monitoring, understanding medications and reducing risk of complications.

Meal Planning

Nutrition is one of the most important pieces of the diabetes puzzle. Understanding how different foods affect the blood glucose, what carbohydrates are and how to create meals that balance carbohydrate intake can go a long way in managing blood glucose levels. Many people are also trying to manage other disease states that impact their diet. Those individuals can get specific information to help them make this work.

Physical Activity

Increasing physical activity is also a key component to proper diabetes care. Along with all of the other benefits one will receive from being active, improving blood glucose levels is another substantial benefit. Information will be provided on managing both high and low blood glucose and managing blood glucose during exercise. Information will also be reviewed on staying motivated to keep up the good work!

Monitoring

Understanding how, when and how often to monitor blood glucose levels; in addition to how to interpret results. This will help those with diabetes to manage blood glucose levels. Learning how to manage blood glucose during sick days, how to perform proper foot and skin care, and how to prevent complications and cope with diabetes are important in staying healthy.

Medications

Many people with diabetes need medication to keep their blood glucose level steady. A diabetes educator can help you better understand the purpose of specific medications, when and how to take them and any side effects to watch for. They will also discuss how to identify and treat hypoglycemia.

Support

Emotional support, while not often initially considered, plays a key role in diabetes care. Connecting with other people living with diabetes that understand the daily grind of meal planning, monitoring blood glucose and dealing with high and low blood glucose levels can make all of the difference. Getting involved with a diabetes support group can support the emotional aspect of living with diabetes.