Diabetes Complication Care
Make a Commitment to Manage Your Diabetes.Learn all you should about diabetes. Make healthy eating and physical activity a part of your daily routine. Maintain a healthy weight.
Monitor your blood sugars, and follow your health care providers instructions for managing your blood sugar level. Take your medications as directed by your health care provider. Ask your diabetes treatment team for help when you need it
Don't smoke
Avoid smoking or quit smoking if you smoke. Smoking increases your risk of type 2 diabetes and the risk of various diabetes complications, including:
- ✅ Reduced blood flow in the legs and feet, which can lead to infections, non healing ulcers and possible amputation
- ✅ Worse blood sugar control
- ✅ Heart disease
- ✅ Stroke
- ✅ Eye disease, which can lead to blindness
- ✅ Nerve damage
- ✅ Kidney disease
- ✅ Premature death
Keep your vaccines up to date
- ✅ Flu vaccine A yearly flu vaccine can help you stay healthy during flu season as well as prevent serious complications from the flu.
- ✅ Pneumonia vaccine Sometimes the pneumonia vaccine requires only one shot. If you have diabetes complications or you're age 65 or older, you may need a booster shot.
- ✅ Hepatitis B vaccine The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for adults with diabetes who haven't previously received the vaccine and are younger than 60. If you're age 60 or older and have never received the hepatitis B vaccine, talk to your health care provider about whether it's right for you.
- ✅ Herpes zoster A zoster vaccine is a vaccine that reduces the incidence of herpes zoster, a disease caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, which is also responsible for chickenpox. herpes zoster (shingles) in individuals 50 years of age and older.
- ✅ Other vaccines Stay up to date with your tetanus shot (usually given every 10 years). Your doctor may recommend other vaccines as well.
Take care of your teeth
Diabetes may leave you prone to gum infections. Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss your teeth once a day and schedule dental exams at least twice a year. Call your dentist if your gums bleed or look red or swollen.
Pay attention to your feet
High blood sugar can reduce blood flow and damage the nerves in your feet. Left untreated, cuts and blisters can lead to serious infections. Diabetes can lead to pain, tingling or loss of sensation in your feet. To prevent foot problems:
- ✅ Wash your feet daily in lukewarm water. Avoid soaking your feet, as this can lead to dry skin.
- ✅ Dry your feet gently, especially between the toes.
- ✅ Moisturize your feet and ankles with lotion or petroleum jelly. Do not put oils or creams between your toes — the extra moisture can lead to infection.
- ✅ Check your feet daily for calluses, blisters, sores, redness or swelling.
- ✅ Consult your doctor if you have a sore or other foot problem that doesn't start to heal within a few days. If you have a foot ulcer — an open sore — see your doctor right away.
- ✅ Don't go barefoot, indoors or outdoors.
If you drink alcohol, do so responsibly
Alcohol can cause high or low blood sugar, depending on how much you drink and whether you eat at the same time. If you choose to drink, do so only in moderation, which means no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.
Always drink with a meal or snack, and remember to include the calories from any alcohol you drink in your daily calorie count. Also, be aware that alcohol can lead to low blood sugar later, especially for people who use insulin.
Take stress seriously
If you're stressed, it's easy to neglect your usual diabetes care routine. To manage your stress, set limits. Prioritize your tasks. Learn relaxation techniques.
Get plenty of sleep. And above all, stay positive. Diabetes care is within your control. If you're willing to do your part, diabetes won't stand in the way of an active, healthy life.