Diabetes Defined : Treatment and Research

by National Institute on Aging

(Page 5 of 8)

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.

Diet and Exercise

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.

Couple walking. 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.

Quiz

1. Which of the following is a management tool for controlling diabetes?

A. following a meal plan
B. taking diabetes medicines every day
C. getting regular physical activity
D. all of the above

D is the correct answer.

The basic management tools for diabetes include

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

2. Exercise is especially good for people with diabetes because

A. exercise is good for your skin.
B. exercise makes you feel younger.
C. exercise helps insulin work better to lower blood glucose.
D. exercise helps you sleep better.

C is the correct answer. Exercise is especially good for people with diabetes because it helps keep weight down and helps insulin work better to lower blood glucose. Also, it is good for your heart and lungs and it gives you more energy.

3. Which of the following health care specialists can help a person with diabetes design a meal plan to control their blood sugar levels?

A. chiropractor
B. endocrinologist
C. dietitian or diabetes educator
D. podiatrist

C is the correct answer. A dietitian can help plan meals to include foods that a person with diabetes and their family like to eat and that also help the person with diabetes maintain healthy blood glucose levels.

4. How often should a person with diabetes try to exercise?

A. every other day for 30 minutes
B. every day for a total of at least 30 minutes
C. once a month for an hour
D. every day for a total of two hours

B is the correct answer. A person with diabetes should 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. Before you begin any exercise program, talk with your doctor.

About the Author

www.nia.nih.gov
NIA, one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of NIH, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. In 1974, Congress granted authority to form NIA to provide leadership in aging research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs relevant to aging and older people.