Managing diabetes can be demanding in the beginning, as it requires a significant commitment. Nevertheless, with genuine dedication, you can effectively control your diabetes. Prioritizing self-care can help you avoid the long-term complications often associated with diabetes, particularly in a city like Cullman, which is renowned for its thriving food culture.
This also goes to show why the state of Alabama has one of the highest percentages of pharmacists employed. But even though quality healthcare is available in abundance, diabetes continues to be a serious problem in Cullman.
Since body types can vary, not every diabetic needs to adhere to the same routine. However, we offer some essential tips that are equally relevant for all individuals with diabetes to maintain optimal fitness and well-being.
1. Avoid Smoking
The first thing you need to do to control your diabetes is to quit smoking. This helps to manage the sugar level in your blood. Smoking affects the blood flow in your body, which leads to difficulties in healing ulcers, infections, and nerve damage.
Nicotine increases the sugar level in the blood, thus making it difficult to control; therefore, people with smoking habits need higher levels of insulin to manage their diabetes. Diabetes increases the risk of a heart attack, which further increases due to smoking. Smoking causes plaque to build up in the blood vessels, thus affecting the blood flow in your body and increasing the chances of a heart attack and stroke.
2. Take Care of Your Medication and Vaccines
Managing your medication and vaccines is very essential if you have diabetes. A Cullman discount pharmacy like Village Discount Drugs can offer you the help you need. Simply schedule an appointment in advance and collect your medications at your convenience instead of enduring lengthy queues.
Additionally, they can provide valuable information about the essential medications to take and those to avoid if you have diabetes.
Your doctor may recommend taking aspirin regularly to manage your cardiac health and prevent heart disease. Diabetes has an impact on your immunity and makes you more susceptible to disease, especially if you are over 65. However, getting annual vaccines can save you from certain infections like flu, pneumonia, etc.
3. Keep Your Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Under Control
It’s crucial to give extra attention to your cholesterol levels and blood pressure when you have diabetes, as it raises the risk of a heart attack and weakens your immune system. This proactive approach can help prevent future heart issues.
Consider adopting a diet that’s low in both fats and sodium, which is particularly important for individuals with high blood pressure. Steer clear of fried foods and opt for nutrient-rich, low-calorie options to prevent obesity.
A regular exercise regimen is also essential to maintain a healthy and controlled cardiac function. Your doctor may prescribe medications to help regulate your blood pressure consistently.
4. Take Care of Your Teeth
Diabetes heightens the vulnerability of your teeth and gums to harm due to elevated sugar levels in your saliva. Therefore, it’s crucial to prioritize oral care. Ensure that you brush your teeth at least twice a day using fluoride toothpaste to ward off potential issues and maintain good oral health. Don’t forget to floss your teeth and gums regularly to prevent the buildup of plaque and avoid gum bleeding.
Perform routine self-examinations of your mouth to check for signs like redness and swelling in the gums, which diabetics often encounter. Additionally, schedule regular appointments with your dentist, who can guide oral health in relation to diabetes, particularly if you notice frequent changes in your oral condition.
5. Pay Attention to Your Feet
People with diabetes should pay special attention to their feet because diabetes can reduce blood flow and cause nerve damage, making it challenging for wounds like blisters and ulcers to heal. Diabetes can also lead to discomfort, tingling, and diminished sensation in the feet.
To prevent potential serious issues, it’s important to regularly wash your feet with warm water to enhance blood circulation and moisturize them with lotion or petroleum jelly. This helps protect your feet from dryness and future infections.
Avoid walking barefoot, both indoors and outdoors, to shield your feet from external harm. Conduct regular self-examinations of your feet to detect any blisters or sores, and seek prompt medical attention if any wound fails to heal completely within a week or two.
6. Control Your Alcohol Consumption
If you regularly consume alcohol and have diabetes, it’s important to manage your alcohol intake carefully. Alcohol consumption can result in either high or low blood sugar levels, depending on the quantity consumed and your eating habits. Excessive drinking among diabetics can lead to the accumulation of certain acids, potentially causing serious health complications.
Diabetes can cause elevated blood sugar levels in well-nourished individuals and lower blood sugar levels in others, especially when combined with insulin and other diabetes medications. To help regulate your blood sugar while drinking, consider snacking, as this can assist your liver in maintaining stable sugar levels. Drinking without snacking may lead to hypoglycemia.
It’s generally recommended to limit alcohol intake to one drink per day, but for personalized guidance, it’s advisable to consult your doctor to determine the appropriate amount of alcohol for your specific body and diabetes management.
7. Manage Your Stress Levels
Managing your stress is essential, not only because it can harm your overall health but also because it may lead you to compromise on your regular diabetes care. To effectively handle stress, prioritize your tasks to reduce the burden of pressure and learn relaxation techniques to calm your mind.
Allocate some time each day to meditation to build the resilience needed to cope with life’s pressures and unexpected challenges. Emphasize maintaining a consistent sleep and exercise routine to stay physically fit and mentally prepared to tackle difficult situations more effectively.
In your busy schedule, always carve out time for your mental well-being because the first step to achieving peace of mind and a healthy body is dedicating time to yourself and engaging in activities that bring happiness and contentment.
Conclusion
Diabetes is a condition that will never become a hindrance in living your life to the fullest, only if you take proper care of it. Remember to never consider yourself weak because of this condition, and try to exercise and stay as physically active as you can.
Body activity not only boosts your mental and physical health but also improves your blood pressure and sugar levels. This can help you live a perfectly healthy and happy life with diabetes as well.
