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Creating A Lifestyle
Learning how to live with diabetes begins with understanding what it is and how to properly manage it. Strive to create a lifestyle founded in healthy dietary choices, appropriate activity levels, and pro-active care. Pro-active care may range from identifying which tools are best for accurately monitoring blood glucose levels, to how often you should schedule medical examinations.
If you or your child have recently be diagnosed with diabetes, you can begin to create a full and rewarding lifestyle by:
- Seeking regular guidance and expertise from a physician
- Learning to properly monitor glucose levels
- Talking to your family about proper nutrition
- Trying new and tasty recipes aimed at keeping blood glucose levels as close to normal range as possible
- Working with the school to ensure proper care for your child
- Acknowledging the psychological and social aspects of living with diabetes
- Finding support groups
Diabetes Prevention
People who smoke, have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, or are overweight, may find themselves to be at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 57 million people in the United States who are in this pre-diabetic stage. However, maintaining a healthy and balanced diet while increasing activity and exercise levels will increase the possibility for preventing Type 2 diabetes from ever developing.
Although there is currently no prevention for Type 1 diabetes, the medical community is conducting research to develop vaccines aimed at preventing ones immune system from destroying its beta cells (found in the pancreas).
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