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Patient information from the BMJ Group
Diabetes: What can I do to keep healthy?
Diabetes is a long-term condition. It can lead to serious health problems. But
making changes to your lifestyle and taking medicines can help you live a long
and healthy life.
What health problems might I get?
If you have diabetes, you have too much glucose in your blood. Glucose is a kind ofsugar that your body uses for energy. But if it builds up in your blood it can damage yourblood vessels. This can cause damage to your feet, kidneys, eyes, and other parts ofyour body. Diabetes also means you are more likely to have a heart attack, a stroke orcirculation problems.
There are lots of things you can do to lower your chance of getting these health problems.
We've listed them below. Doing these things has many benefits for your health. Theyhelp to keep the levels of glucose in your blood as close to normal as possible. Theyalso help to keep your blood pressure and your cholesterol (a fatty substance in theblood) at healthy levels.
Your doctor or nurse can help you work out the levels of blood glucose, blood pressureand cholesterol that you should aim for.
Eating a healthy diet
Doctors used to recommend that people with diabetes stuck to a sugar-free diet. Butthey now know that the most important thing for people with diabetes is to eat a healthy,balanced, low-fat diet. You don't need to buy special diabetic foods.
The aim is to lose weight, if you are overweight, and to stop your blood pressure fromgetting high. A healthy diet can also help keep your blood glucose and cholesterol undercontrol.
You should aim to eat regular, well-balanced meals. You need to include lots of starchyfoods such as bread and pasta, fruits and vegetables. And you need to eat fewer sweetfoods, fats and proteins. Your doctor can refer you to a dietitian who can help you makea food plan that suits you.
Stopping smoking
Smoking increases your chances of having a heart attack or a stroke. It also makescirculation problems worse. If you have diabetes, your chances of a heart attack, a strokeor circulation problems are already higher than most people. So it makes sense to giveup smoking, to reduce your risk as much as possible.
Stopping smoking isn't easy, but help is available. Getting professional help from yourdoctor, a nurse, or a trained counsellor can help you stop smoking. There are also BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2012. All rights reserved.
Diabetes: What can I do to keep healthy?
treatments that can help, including nicotine replacement therapy and medicines calledbupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (Chantix).
Taking exercise
If you haven't exercised much in the past, making exercise part of your life might seemhard. But exercise has great benefits. It will help keep down the level of glucose in yourblood. It will also: Help keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control Help lower your chances of having a heart attack or a stroke.
Talk to your doctor about what sort of exercise is best for you. Most doctors advise theirpatients to do some kind of exercise every day. Walking briskly for 30 minutes each daymight be enough. Try to find an exercise you enjoy, so it's easier to stick to.
Ask your doctor if you need to change your medicine when you exercise. Exercise usesup glucose, so you might need to take less medicine or take it later. If you are going toexercise for a long time, you may need to eat a snack, like a banana, first.
Regular check-ups
When you're first diagnosed with diabetes, you'll probably need to see lots of differenthealth professionals, to check whether you have any health problems. Once your treatmentis going well, you only need check-ups once or twice a year. These check-ups areimportant to make sure your treatment is working and you're not getting any healthproblems.
You should have these tests at least once a year: A blood or urine test to check if your kidneys are working properly.
A blood test to check your cholesterol level.
A test of your blood sugar control. This is called an HbA1c test. It shows doctorshow well your treatment is working.
During a check-up, your doctor will look at: Your weight, to see if you need to lose some weight to control your diabetes better Your legs and feet: Your doctor will examine your skin and check to see if yourcirculation and nerves are working properly. You may need to see a foot doctor ifyou have any problems with your feet BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2012. All rights reserved.
Diabetes: What can I do to keep healthy?
Your eyes:You may need to see an eye doctor for this check. The doctor will examinethe backs of your eyes (your retina). Diabetes can damage your retina and affectyour eyesight.
Your doctor may also advise you to learn how to check your blood glucose at home.
Taking medicines
Some people control their diabetes with just diet and exercise. But most people withdiabetes need to take medicines. There are different types: Medicines to control your blood glucose. Keeping your blood sugar as close to normalas possible may help you avoid damage to your eyes, kidneys and feet.
Medicines to keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels healthy. Thesemedicines reduce the chance of a heart attack or a stroke. You might also need totake a low dose of aspirin, to thin your blood.
You'll probably need to take more than one type of medicine. It can be hard to keep trackof all the medicines you are taking. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for help. You mightwant to try a pill organiser.
It's important to take all your medicines as prescribed by your doctor. This gives you thebest chance of staying healthy.
Some medicines have side effects. If you are getting problems from your medicines,don't stop taking them. Talk to your doctor first. You don't have to put up with side effects.
You may need to switch to a different type of medicine, or a different dose.
Some people with type 2 diabetes need regular insulin injections to control their bloodglucose. But you are unlikely to need insulin straight away, and you may never need it.
If your doctor thinks you would benefit from insulin, you'll learn all about it and have plentyof time to discuss it before you start injections.
This information is aimed at a UK patient audience. This information however does not replace medical advice.
If you have a medical problem please see your doctor. for this content.
For more information about this condition and sources of the information contained in this leaflet please visit the BestHealth websiteThese leaflets are reviewed annually.
BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2012. All rights reserved.
Last published: Oct 31, 2012

Source: http://clinicalevidence.org/x/pdf/clinical-evidence/en-gb/summary/532103.pdf