The most important thing you can do when you have type 2 diabetes is to take your medications, such as your acarbose dose, exactly as your doctor has instructed. Of course, there are other things you can do to increase your quality of life if you are living with type 2 diabetes. Read on to learn more about living with type 2 diabetes.
See Your General Practitioner Every Six Months
One of the most important things that you can do to manage your type 2 diabetes is to see your general practitioner regularly. While it’s fine for most people to see their general practitioner every year, you should see your doctor more often if you have diabetes. Most experts recommend that diabetes patients see their doctors every six months or so. This allows doctors to check your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol more often. Visiting your doctor every six months also allows you to inform them about the progression of your condition and ask them any questions you may have.
Quit Smoking
Smoking causes numerous health problems for people without diabetes. However, it is even worse for people who have diabetes. This is because smoking greatly increases your risk of getting heart disease or kidney disease. People with diabetes already have a higher risk of serious heart disease and kidney disease. Quitting will help you reduce your risk of heart and kidney problems.
Keep an Eye On Your Stress Levels
High stress levels are a serious health concern for people in good health. This is because high stress levels can lead to high blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to heart problems. As previously mentioned, people with diabetes are already at a higher risk of developing serious heart problems. If you have diabetes, you need to do everything you can to reduce your risk of heart problems.
If you are stressed out, you may want to try yoga or meditation. There are many apps that guide you through meditation. Meditation has been proven to reduce stress levels.
Check Your Blood Pressure & Blood Sugar Regularly
If you’re diabetic, you know that your blood pressure and blood sugar levels fluctuate more than they should. This is why it’s vital that you keep a close eye on your blood pressure and your blood sugar. Thankfully, there are affordable and easy-to-use blood pressure and blood sugar monitors which are intended for home use.
Excercise Often
The Center for Disease Control recommends that Americans get about 20 minutes of exercise per day. Not only can exercise help improve your muscle tone and flexibility, it can also help you reduce your risk of heart disease. Going for a daily walk or bike ride can help you keep your heart healthy despite your diabetes.
Follow a Healthy Diet
Following a healthy diet is the most important thing (besides taking your medication) that you can do to manage your diabetes. Cutting out most fat, sugar, and sodium will help you avoid heart problems. Of course, you can drink soda or fruit juice if you need to boost your blood sugar levels.
