If you've just been told you have diabetes, don't be disheartened. With proper treatment and some adjustment to your lifestyle, you can manage diabetes and lead a healthy life
<div class="ExternalClass1629594817224447948EE444E2443F76"><div>
<a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/115/get-healthhub-track" title="HealthHub Track"><img src="/sites/assets/Assets/Article%20Images/HH-Track-Banner%20(300x250)_v8%20(HIRES).jpg" alt="" style="float:left;margin:5px;width:300px;vertical-align:baseline;height:469px;" /></a> </div><p>If you’ve just been told you have diabetes, don’t be disheartened. With proper treatment and some adjustment to your lifestyle, you can manage diabetes and lead a healthy life.</p><p>Here’s what to do:</p>
<div style="clear:both;"></div><h2>Check Your Blood Glucose Often
</h2><p style="text-align:center;">
<img src="/sites/assets/Assets/Categories/Chronic%20Illness/test-blood-glucose-for-diabetes.jpg" alt="Man testing his blood glucose levels with a glucometer" style="margin:5px;" />
</p><ul><li>Together with your doctor, set your
<a title="blood glucose goals" href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1331/my-goal"> blood glucose goals</a>.
</li><li>Keep a
<a title="diary" href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1328/blood-sugar-diary">diary</a> of your blood glucose readings especially if you are on insulin.</li></ul><p>
<strong>Related:
<a title="Blood Glucose Monitoring" href="https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/669/blood-glucose-monitoring">Blood Glucose Monitoring</a></strong></p><h2>Keep All Appointments with Your Doctor
</h2><p style="text-align:center;">
<img src="/sites/assets/Assets/Categories/Chronic%20Illness/asian-doctor-and-patient.jpg" alt="Doctor measuring the blood pressure of a patient" style="margin:5px;" />
</p><ul><li>Take your diabetes pills or insulin on time.</li><li>Bring your blood glucose diary when you see your doctor.</li><li>Let your doctor know what other medicines (including traditional Chinese medicines) you take.</li></ul><p>
<strong>Related:
<a title="Diabetes Management: Weight, Diet, Exercise and Medicine" href="https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/667/diabetes-management-weight-diet-exercise-and-medicine">Diabetes Management: Weight, Diet, Exercise and Medicine</a></strong></p><h2>Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
</h2><p style="text-align:center;">
<img src="/sites/assets/Assets/Categories/Chronic%20Illness/fruit-and-vegetable-salad-and-glucose-meter.jpg" alt="Healthy salad of spinach, figs and cherry tomatoes beside a glucometer" style="margin:5px;" />
</p><ul><li>Have regular meals and don’t skip meals.</li><li>Eat a healthy and balanced
<a href="http://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/838/healthy-eating-for-managing-diabetes" title="Healthy Eating for Managing Diabetes">diet</a>.</li><li>
<a title="Physical Activity and Diabetes" href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1334/Stay-Active-with-Diabetes">Exercise</a> (e.g. brisk walk, jog, swim or cycle) at least 20 minutes every day or 150 minutes a week.</li><li>Have enough rest. Sleep seven to eight hours every night.</li><li>Learn to relax and reduce stress.</li></ul><p>
<strong>Related:
<a title="Stay Active with Diabetes" href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1334/Stay-Active-with-Diabetes">Stay Active with Diabetes</a></strong></p><h2>Plan for Sick Days
</h2><p style="text-align:center;">
<img src="/sites/assets/Assets/Categories/Chronic%20Illness/young-beautiful-asian-woman-headache-on-white-bed.jpg" alt="Woman in bed with a bad headache" style="margin:5px;" />
</p><ul><li>Look out for symptoms of
<a title="Blood Glucose Monitoring" href="https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/669/blood-glucose-monitoring">high blood glucose</a>,
<a title="What is Low Blood Glucose" href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1311/what-is-low-blood-glucose">low blood glucose</a> or
<a title="Blood Glucose Monitoring" href="https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/669/blood-glucose-monitoring">ketones</a> and know how to manage them.</li><li>Wear a medical identification tag such as a medical bracelet.</li><li>Carry small packets of sugar or sugary snacks (e.g. raisins or candies) with you.</li><li>Your doctor will help you set blood glucose goals. Write them in this table to remember them.</li></ul>
<div class="table-responsive"><table cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="ms-rteTable-default table" style="display:block;border:none;"><thead><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="display:table-cell;width:20%;"><p>
<strong>Time</strong></p></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="display:table-cell;width:40%;"><p>
<strong>Plasma Blood Glucose Values for Adults with Diabetes (mmol/L)</strong></p></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="display:table-cell;width:40%;"><p>
<strong>My Blood Glucose Goals</strong></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="display:table-cell;width:20%;"><p>Before a meal (fasting)</p></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="display:table-cell;width:40%;"><p>Less than 4.0 to 7.0</p></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="display:table-cell;width:40%;"></td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="display:table-cell;width:20%;"><p>2 hours after a meal</p></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="display:table-cell;width:40%;"><p>Less than 10.0</p></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="display:table-cell;width:40%;"></td></tr><tr><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="display:table-cell;width:20%;"><p>HbA1C</p></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="display:table-cell;width:40%;"><p>Less than 7%</p></td><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="display:table-cell;width:40%;"></td></tr></tbody></table>
<span id="tablenote" class="CaptionText" style="width:90%;">Source: MOH Clinical Practice Guidelines for Diabetes 1/2014, Ministry of Health Singapore.</span> </div>
<p>Download the
<a href="/sites/assets/Assets/PDFs/HPB/Diseases+Conditions/Check-List%20for%20Newly%20Diagnoised%20Diabetes.pdf" title="Check-list for Newly Diagnosed Diabetes" target="_blank">checklist for people with newly diagnosed diabetes [PDF]</a>.</p><hr /><p>
<strong>Read these next:</strong></p><ul><li>
<a title="Diabetes: Diet and Lifestyle" href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/886/diabetes-diet-and-lifestyle">Diabetes: Diet and Lifestyle</a>
</li><li>
<a title="Sugar Rush" href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/894/sugar-rush">Sugar Rush</a></li><li>
<a title="The ABCs of Health Screening" href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/403/abcs_of_health_screening">The ABCs of Health Screening</a>
</li></ul></div>
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Friday, July 20, 2018
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When You Have Diabetes, Use This Checklist