If you recently received a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (the most common form of the condition), you are probably wondering how your life will change and what you need to learn to stay as healthy as possible and prevent complications. The first thing you need to do is to learn as much as you can about diabetes and how to reduce your risk of complications. Here are some key factors that affect diabetes management that should be on your list of things to learn about.
Nutrition: What you eat, how much you eat, and when you eat it play an important role in managing your blood sugar (also known as blood glucose).
Physical Activity: Getting regular physical activity helps lower blood glucose levels, control weight, improve fitness, and relieve stress.
Weight Management: Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is very important in managing type 2 diabetes and improving health outcomes.
Stress Management: Learning how to manage your stress in healthy ways will make it easier for you to manage your diabetes. Healthy options include speaking with a counsellor, practicing meditation or mindfulness, engaging in yoga or tai chi, or exercising.
Blood Pressure Management: People with diabetes should generally try to keep their blood pressure below 130/80 to reduce risks of eye disease, heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.
Medication Management: Some people with prediabetes or mild early type 2 diabetes may be treated with changes to diet and physical activity alone, but many people require oral medications, insulin, or other injectable medicines to control their blood glucose level. It is common for people with diabetes to be prescribed a combination of medications to lower blood glucose plus others to prevent complications due to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or other conditions.
Blood Glucose Testing: Measuring and tracking your blood glucose level is a critical step in managing diabetes. When blood glucose is high, the risk of damage to your blood vessels and organs increases. Knowing how different factors affect your blood glucose will let you and your healthcare team know when you may need to make changes to your diet, activity level, or medications to help you achieve your target glucose levels.
This may seem overwhelming at first, but you don’t have to do it all on your own. There is a whole team of health professionals available to help you learn what you need to know to lead your healthiest life.
YOUR DIABETES TEAM
In addition to your doctor, and possibly an endocrinologist, there is a team of healthcare professionals who will work together to help you, and each has a particular area of expertise.
Pharmacist: Your London Drugs pharmacists are an important part of your team and are the most accessible healthcare professionals. They are available to answer questions about your diabetes or other medical conditions, usually without an appointment, even in evenings or on weekends. Pharmacists are medication experts and will help you understand the purpose of your medications and how to take them. They can work with your doctor to manage your medications to reduce side effects and improve efficacy. Other members of the pharmacy team can teach you about blood glucose monitors and insulin delivery devices and how to safely dispose of used needles or testing supplies.
Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE): London Drugs CDE pharmacists have additional specialty education to help patients learn about and manage their diabetes. They can help patients develop an overall diabetes care plan, manage medications for effectiveness and address any concerns, adjust insulin doses, advise how to prevent and treat hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) and hyperglycemia (high blood glucose), plus they can provide advanced training on blood glucose monitoring devices. Talk to your pharmacist to find out if this service is available in your area.
Dietitian or Nutritionist: Food and diet experts can teach you how different types of foods can affect your blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, and overall health. They can provide meal plans or guidelines for healthy eating choices and timing of meals. Check with your doctor or pharmacist about how to contact a dietician or nutritionist in your area.
Podiatrist: People with diabetes need to pay special attention to their feet. A podiatrist is a doctor who specializes in detecting and treating foot and lower leg problems such as nerve damage, joint problems, blood vessel damage, and infections. Diabetes can cause reduced blood flow or nerve damage that can lead to infections that don’t heal. Be sure to have any foot concerns looked at immediately.
Optometrist: Diabetes can cause damage to the small blood vessels of your eyes, leading to impaired vision, cataracts, glaucoma, or other problems. Schedule regular screening appointments with your eye doctor to reduce your risks.
Dentist: People with diabetes have a higher risk of gum disease and cavities. Regular checkups and cleanings are important for everyone.
Others: Depending on your needs, other specialists and service providers may be added to your team. Be sure to inform each member of your team who else is involved in your care so they can work together to help you succeed in your health goals.
If you have any questions about diabetes prevention or treatment for yourself or for a loved one, speak to your London Drugs pharmacist. We are here to help you anytime.
