A diabetes diagnosis can come as a sudden shock, impacting your health in various ways. Regardless of whether you have been diagnosed as a type 1 or type 2 diabetic, you should take the steps to care for your health moving forward and stabilize your blood sugar levels.
To ensure the lifelong condition doesn’t impact your quality of life, read the following advice on how to care for your body after a diabetes diagnosis.
Stick to a Healthy Diet
It is imperative to stick to a healthy diet if you have been diagnosed with diabetes. For example, you must aim to consume foods that are low in salt, fat, and sugar and high in fiber, such as:
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Beans
- Grains
By doing so, you’ll be able to reach or stay at a healthy weight, steady your blood sugar levels, and prevent the development of heart or blood vessel disease. Consulting a dietitian who can develop a healthy eating plan that works for your body and lifestyle might also be worthwhile.
Understand How to Use Insulin
If you have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, you’ll need to take an insulin shot per your doctor’s orders. It’s also a wise idea to eat the same level of food at the same time each day. Never skip a meal, as your blood sugar might suddenly drop.
If you haven’t been prescribed insulin, you must follow a healthy diet and never skip a meal if you take diabetes pills to prevent low blood sugar.
Care for Your Feet Each Day
If you have been recently diagnosed with diabetes, you might be surprised to discover that you’ll need to take extra care of your feet, as a tiny cut can lead to serious health complications. For example, it could decrease your foot’s blood flow, cause unnecessary nerve damage, or make it difficult for the body to overcome an infection.
It’s, therefore, imperative to inspect your feet every day for potential blisters, cuts, or nail problems. You should also wash your feet daily, carefully cut your nails, wear Circufiber socks, and organize periodic foot and ankle exams from a foot and ankle surgeon, such as Big Foot and Ankle. The above can prevent foot complications and ensure you remain in excellent health.
Start Working Out
Exercise can be an effective tactic for people with diabetes, as it can help them maintain a healthy weight, boost their energy levels, and allow their insulin to easily lower high blood sugar levels. However, talking to a doctor before working out is imperative, as some exercises might not be safe if you suffer from eye issues or high blood pressure. It’s, however, important to check your blood sugar before, during, and after physical activity, and you must avoid working out if it exceeds 240.
