treatment and research

Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Diabetes cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. Strict control of blood glucose, or blood sugar, as well as blood pressure and cholesterol is the best defense against the serious complications of diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes control their blood sugar with insulin injections and frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose. People with type 2 diabetes generally control their blood sugar with oral medications and, in some cases, insulin. Sometimes a person with type 2 diabetes can control blood glucose levels with diet and exercise alone.

Good control of blood glucose requires:

following a meal plan
getting regular physical activity
taking diabetes medicine every day
checking blood glucose as recommended
monitoring your diabetes ABCs.

Follow a Meal Plan

Healthy eating is very important to lowering blood glucose levels, and people with diabetes should have their own meal plan. Ask your doctor to give you the name of a dietitian or a diabetes educator who can work with you to develop a meal plan. In designing a meal plan, the dietitian considers the patient's weight and daily physical activity. For overweight patients, a weight loss plan is a must for proper blood glucose control. Your dietitian can help you plan meals to include foods that you and your family like to eat and that are good for you. Ask your dietitian to include foods that are heart healthy to reduce your risk of heart disease.

People with diabetes don't need to eat special foods. You can eat foods that are low in fat, salt, and sugar and high in fiber, such as beans, fruits, vegetables, and grains. Eating right will help you reach and stay at a weight that's good for your body, keep your blood glucose in a desirable range, and prevent heart and blood vessel disease.

Get Regular Physical Activity

Regular physical activity is important for people with diabetes. Taking part in a regular fitness program has been shown to improve blood glucose levels in older people whose levels are high. Exercise is especially good for people with diabetes because

exercise helps keep weight down
exercise helps insulin work better to lower blood glucose
exercise is good for your heart and lungs
exercise gives you more energy.

Before you begin exercising, talk with your doctor. Your doctor may check your heart and your feet to be sure you have no special problems. If you have high blood pressure or eye problems, some exercises like weightlifting may not be safe. Your health care team can help you find safe exercises.

Walking, swimming, dancing, riding a bicycle, playing baseball, and bowling are all good ways to exercise. You can even get exercise when you clean house or work in your garden. Try to exercise almost every day for a total of about 30 minutes. If you haven't exercised lately, begin slowly. Start with 5 to 10 minutes, and then add more time. Or exercise for 10 minutes, three times a day.

NIH SeniorHealth
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Last updated: 08 December 2004