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Health Education

Diabetes

Living with Diabetes

Diabetes is an illness that prevents your body from producing or using insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone found in your body that changes food into the energy that you use each day.

Diabetes can damage your eyes, feet, heart, and kidneys.

You are at risk for diabetes if you:

  • Are overweight
  • Are over age 45
  • Have a close family member with diabetes
  • Had a baby that weighs over 9 pounds, or had gestational diabetes during your pregnancy
     

HealthPoint Can Help You Live Well with Diabetes

Your care team of HealthPoint doctors, nutritionists, dentists, and behavioral health experts will support you to manage diabetes and care for your health.

Here’s what you can do to manage your diabetes:

Test often.

Write down your blood sugar (glucose) results and show them to your care team. Know your HbA1C number. Writing down these numbers regularly helps your doctor to monitor your blood sugar and create a treatment plan.

Take your medication as prescribed.

Talk to your care team about how to take insulin and other medications, and any side effects.

Talk to a nutritionist about how to eat healthfully.

Read more about nutrition for diabetes.

Be more active.

Pick a favorite physical activity and do it most days of the week. HealthPoint can help you fit healthy activity into your lifestyle. If you have a heart condition, talk to your care team before you begin any exercise program.

Have good dental hygiene.

Poor dental hygiene can make diabetes (and your general health) worse. Brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily, and see a dentist twice a year.

Don’t smoke.

Smoking makes it more difficult to control your blood sugar and prevents insulin from working properly. Talk to your care team about ways to quit smoking and manage stress.

Call your HealthPoint Clinic Today to Talk About How to Manage Diabetes.

 

Clinical review by Carolyn Halley, MD. HealthPoint Medical Director.
Reviewed November 14, 2019
Source: American Diabetes Association www.diabetes.org
This information is not intended to be medical advice. Please consult your doctor with any questions about your health.