Get The 411 On Managing Your Diabetes
Most people don’t realize that diabetes is not only the world’s fourth leading cause of death, it’s also increasing daily and now affects and estimated 246 million people globally. Despite the odds, Canadians with diabetes can educate themselves about their condition and take control of their daily management with ongoing care and the support of their doctor, pharmacist, family and friends.
Here are some tips to help you get on the right path to successful diabetes management:
Get the 411
Getting the information you need about your condition and how to manage it is one of the most important steps to success. Check out credible websites to learn about the disease, symptoms, and management tips. Elicit the support of family members and friends in developing and sticking to a diet and exercise regimen that works for you. Your doctor and pharmacist are probably the most valuable resources because they can provide you with information specific to your condition. And while you’re at the pharmacy, talk to your Rexall pharmacist about the new Rexall Diabetes Starter Kit containing all the tools and information you need - in one package - to begin your treatment. The Kit is designed to ensure the newly diagnosed received high-quality information and guidance to help with their diabetes management routine.
Regular Testing
Keeping your blood glucose levels in a healthy range may require checking your blood glucose several times a day. Self-monitoring is an integral part of diabetes management because it puts you in the driver’s seat. Regardless of how you manage your diabetes - through diet and exercise alone or combined with oral medicines or insulin - regular glucose monitoring provides immediate feedback on how your program is working. Some studies have found that the more often people monitor their blood glucose with a conventional blood glucose meter, the better their glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, thereby decreasing the progression of the long-term consequences of diabetes.
Diet and Exercise
If these are two words you love to hate, then you better start loving them! Healthy eating and physical activity provides a host of benefits for your quality of life, blood glucose control, and overall health. Exercise, not only burns glucose it improves the body’s ability to use insulin. This improvement in insulin sensitivity may allow some people with Type 2 diabetes to reduce or even discontinue blood-glucose-lowering medicines with increased physical activity. If you’re making a commitment to physical activity or making any major changes in your diet, make sure you talk to your doctor to discuss any limitations or restrictions you may have.
Follow up with Your Team
It’s often said that diabetes is best managed with a team approach. Your physician and pharmacist are your key points of contact. Your doctor will prescribe medicines for you, recommend target blood glucose goals, order laboratory tests, examine you, and look out for your overall health.
Your pharmacist helps you manage your drug therapy, identifies potentially harmful interactions among the drugs and over-the-counter products you use, and provides you with advice on lifestyle choices, alternate therapies and new products or services available at the pharmacy in the management of diabetes. It’s also important to know that many pharmacists also have additional training in diabetes care and management. Many have become certified diabetes educators, and some offer diabetes classes or one-on-one educational sessions in local pharmacies.
For more information, tips and podcasts about managing your diabetes, visit www.rexall.ca/diabetes.
