Following self-care practices help those living with diabetes avoid hospital visits and serious health complications. Self-care practices that should be implemented into your daily routine include eating healthy, staying physically active, monitoring your blood sugar levels appropriately, utilizing your medications appropriately if prescribed, and practicing healthy behaviors that reduce your risk of diabetes complications such as a diabetic coma.

Other Self-Care practices include but are not limited to:

• Attending annual eye exams
• Caring for your feet (checking for lesions and sores daily)
• Reporting any numbness or tingling to your healthcare provider immediately
• Practicing good oral hygiene
• Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water
• Maintaining sexual health (increased urination can be a sign of complications)
• Reducing Stress
• Talking with your support group to help you stay motived
• Developing healthy coping skills (Everyone struggles at some point in life. Don’t let life’s struggles jeopardize your health in a negative way.)

Diet and exercise go hand in hand. If you are regularly exercising but are eating a diet loaded with sugar, fat, and carbohydrates, your consumption of these foods will counteract your fitness efforts. Likewise, if your diet consists of healthy proteins, fruits, and whole grains but you live a sedentary lifestyle, your cardiovascular health will suffer. Try to find a balance between diet and exercise that are convenient for your lifestyle. Committing to a better diet and daily exercise will help regulate your blood sugar levels and even your mood. Regular exercise also leads to higher energy levels, which in the end will make it easier to exercise. Your diabetes care team have included resources below to help you jump start your fitness regimen. Research shows that walking or jogging, or any aerobic exercise performed at a mild to moderate intensity for 10–30 minutes, three to five days per week, is enough to produce significant improvements in blood sugar control.

Examples of aerobic exercises include but are not limited to:

• Walking
• Running
• Swimming
• Cycling
• Jump Rope
• Dancing: Zumba, Salsa
• Cardio Equipment: elliptical, treadmill, stationary bike, stair master, rowing machine

Following a healthy meal plan is an important part of managing your blood glucose levels (blood sugar). What you choose to eat, how much you eat, and when you eat are all important when keeping your blood glucose level in range. You may feel resistant to starting a 'healthy diet' for fear of going without the foods you enjoy. The good news is that you can still eat your favorite foods but in smaller portions. You may even need to enjoy these foods less often depending on your needs. Your diabetes care team has put together resources below to help you create a meal plan that meets your needs and likes. Remember to keep an open mind when trying new foods and recipes. It can seem challenging at first, but the results will be worth it!

The key to eating with diabetes is to eat a variety of healthy foods from all food groups. The food groups include:

• Vegetables
  • non-starchy: broccoli, carrots, greens, peppers, and tomatoes
  • starchy: potatoes, corn, and green peas
• Fruits
  • oranges, melon, berries, apples, bananas, and grapes
• Grains (at least half of your grains for the day should be whole grains)
  • whole grains: wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley, and quinoa
• Protein
  • lean meat
  • chicken or turkey without the skin
  • fish
  • eggs
  • nuts and peanuts
  • dried beans and certain peas, such as chickpeas and split peas
  • meat substitutes, such as tofu
• Dairy (nonfat or low fat)
  • milk (lactose-free milk if you have lactose intolerance)
  • yogurt
  • cheese

Click here to save or print the Plan Your Portions handout provided by the American Diabetes Association.