Worried about your fluctuating levels of blood sugar? Well, don’t be. Here are 7 pointers on how you can gain control over your sugar levels and stay healthy even with a diabetic condition.​

Check your blood sugar levels regularly​

For a diabetic patient, it is the blood sugar levels which reveal whether he/she has either high amounts of blood sugar or low blood sugar levels in the blood.¹ The best way to check your blood sugar levels at regular intervals is to have a glucometer at hand.^2​

Be regular with your medication​

Adherence to the prescribed medication at the recommended amount and schedule is important for having good diabetic control.³ Missing medication can increase your risk of suffering from several diabetes-related health complications.^4​

Look after your kidneys​

One of the most serious consequences of diabetes is renal or kidney failure. Another common complication is chronic kidney disease (CKD).⁵ The best thing you can do for your kidneys is to eat right and drink plenty of water.^6,7

Control your cholesterol levels​

Diabetes tends to lower "good" cholesterol levels and raise "bad" cholesterol levels, which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. High cholesterol also leads to a common complication of diabetes known as diabetic dyslipidaemia which may result in clogged arteries and coronary complications.^8​

Eat right & exercise regularly​

Your food choices matter a lot when you've got diabetes.⁹ Eat something every 2½ to 3 hours and main meals no longer than 4 - 5 hours apart.⁹ Regular physical exercise is equally important to maintain normal blood sugar levels, but avoid exercising if your blood sugar levels are too high or too low.^9,10,11​

Shed those extra pounds​

Obesity is one of the most crucial mitigating factors of diabetes. Obesity also causes your cholesterol levels to skyrocket, increasing the chances of heart disease.^12,13

References:​

1. Available from: https://diabetes.org/diabetes/a1c/diagnosis as accessed on 14th November, 2022​
2. Available from: https://diabetes.org/diabetes as accessed on 14th November, 2022​
3. Rhee MK, Slocum W, Ziemer DC, et.al. Patient Adherence Improves Glycemic Control. The Diabetes EDUCATOR..2005.31(2):240-250​
4. Currie CJ, Peyrot M, Morgan CLI, et.al. The Impact of Treatment Noncompliance on Mortality in People With Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care 2012 Jun; 35(6): 1279-1284.​
5. Available from: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/kidney-disease/kidney-disease-of-diabetes/Pages/facts.aspx Accessed on 10 November, 2022​
6. https://diabetes.org/diabetes/type-2 and https://diabetes.org/healthy-living/weight-loss as accessed on 14th November, 2022​
7. Available from: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/diabetes-and-kidney-failure Accessed on 10 November, 2022​
8. Available from: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Diabetes/WhyDiabetesMatters/CholesterolAbnormalitiesDiabetes_
   UCM_313868_Article.jsp#.VYuICF97IU Accessed on 10 November, 2022​
9. Available from: http://www.diabetes.org.nz/living_well_with_diabetes/living_with_type_1_diabetes/food Accessed on 10 November, 2022 (not opening)​
10. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetic-food-list-best-worst-foods as accessed on 14th November, 2022​
11. Available from: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-management/art-20047963 Accessed on 15 November, 2022​
12. Eckel RH, Kahn SE, Ferrannini E, et al. Obesity and type 2 diabetes: what can be unified and what needs to be individualized? J ClinEndocrinolMetab. 2011;96(6):1654–1663.3 ​
13. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/behavior.htm as accessed on 14th November, 2022 (not opening)​