Self-care is a prime element in well-controlled diabetes. 

Diabetes self-management means practicing healthy lifestyle habits, sticking to your medical treatment, and keeping the glucose within the target range. 

But, there are many other self-care skills for diabetes that you need to implement for this metabolic condition to be easier to manage.

Here, you can take a look at the different types of self-care to keep you fit.

Benefits of Self-Management of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic progressive metabolic condition. Over 346 million people have diabetes mellitus. By 2030, without any intervention, this number is expected to more than double.

For a chronic illness such as this one, self-management skills are something you can rely on. They can give you peace of mind, take some of the weight off your shoulders, and keep the body in tip-top shape. According to experts, adopting proper self-care activities enhances your overall health.

They can boost glycemic control, curb the odds of diabetes-related complications, and enrich the quality of life. Be sure to talk to a specialist if you have trouble keeping your condition on the right track.

The Pillar of Self-Care Skills for Diabetes

Diabetes is a complex metabolic disorder. So, you would have to hone different self-care tips tailored to your needs. The diabetes self-care checklist below can help you get started.

1. Healthy Eating

Food is like a gold mine for diabetes control.

What you eat can directly impact your glucose, insulin production, blood pressure, and weight.

To support healthy eating patterns, you should focus on consuming a variety of nutrient-dense foods without overeating. You can try different diets or eating patterns as long as you supply the body with the necessary amount of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

Eating habits that help with diabetes self-care are:

• Calorie, protein, and fat counting – Cutting calories is a practical and realistic method for dropping a few extra pounds. Proteins, like lean proteins, provide satiety. While a meal high in fat and protein can change how fast the body absorbs carbohydrates, which can affect your blood sugar levels.
• Portion control – Keeping the food portion in check gives you complete control over the amount and type of food you consume. 
• Meal planning – It gives you time and energy to prepare food that’s good for your condition. By planning the meals, you know exactly what you are putting inside the body. This can minimize the risk of blood sugar highs and lows.

2. Being Physically Active

Exercise is the cornerstone of diabetes management. 

Leading a sedentary lifestyle with diabetes can make the muscle cells lose their sensitivity to insulin. This can throw your glucose off balance.

Experts recommend 30 min to 60 minutes of moderate aerobics as effective type 2 and type 1 diabetes self-care strategies. People who suffer from diabetes may practice resistance training at least 2 times a week. Talk to a healthcare expert to find the best workout habits for your condition.

3. Monitoring of Blood Sugar

Think of your blood sugar readings as a template for diabetes care. 

You can use these readings to create a guideline that’s designed just for you. When the numbers go up or down, you will know when to take your medicine, eat some food, or exercise. 

If there are any drastic swings in blood sugar levels, your doctor can help you make the best diabetes care plan to reduce the odds of diabetes complications. Such as foot problems, nerve damage, heart issues, or kidney disease. 

For successful monitoring, make sure to keep a record of your testing results. Write down when was the last time you ate, the type of readings you got, when you took your medication, and take note of any illnesses or infections you might have developed.

Don’t forget to create a routine for blood sugar testing. Regular check-ups can give you a detailed look at your current health state. Lastly, make sure your blood sugar monitoring device is working. Don’t assume that the device works forever.

4. Medication Compliance

People with diabetes often have to use prescription medication. In many cases, they have multiple prescriptions meant to stabilize their lipids (dyslipidemia), high blood pressure (hypertension), and other comorbidities.

When you stick to your medicine, you can decrease the odds of going to the hospital. You can also manage the intermediate risk factors, lower mortality, and healthcare costs. 

But, studies show that not everyone adheres to their medicine. One review found that adherence to oral antidiabetic agents varies from 36% to 93%. While insulin compliance was about 63%.  

Make sure you don’t forget to take your medication. 

5. Good Problem-Solving Skills

Diabetes can be volatile, unpredictable, and hectic. Problem-solving skills can be of use for evaluating, controlling, and overcoming different obstacles. 

Problem-solving gives you key abilities to master your diabetes self-care. You can use these skills to make a clear action plan, address the issue, and find realistic methods to manage it. 

So, whenever you are facing an unexpected problem with diabetes, you can navigate the challenges, make a couple of tweaks, and create excellent self-management goals.

6. Healthy Coping Skills 

Managing diabetes can take a toll on your physical and mental health. Dealing with a chronic condition is no easy feat. 

According to studies, emotional, social, and psychological factors don’t just play an important role in the quality of life. But they also affect your chronic disease outcomes. Diabetes care is greatly affected by psychosocial factors and can hinder your ability to achieve metabolic control.

By having healthy coping skills, you are less likely to turn to dangerous habits like alcohol abuse, overeating, or smoking.

7. Risk-Reduction Behaviors

For effective self-care, it is important to practice behaviors and prevent or reduce complications and bad outcomes from diabetes or prediabetes. 

For example, you should work on curbing the extra pounds if you are overweight. If you’ve been sitting too much at work or home, you should find activities that you enjoy. Any type of exercise that gets the blood flow going. 

With reliable self-care and monitoring, you can live a comfortable life with diabetes.