Understanding Diabetes

Making healthy food choices is very important when you have prediabetes. Understand which kinds of fats, carbohydrates and meats to select when you need to improve your blood glucose levels.

Controlling the amount of food we eat is important to our overall health. Learn tips and strategies for managing portion sizes when cooking for yourself and when dining out.

Being physically active is important to your overall health, especially if you have prediabetes. See how regular exercise helps you manage your weight, and helps to reduce your chances for developing type 2 diabetes.

Making healthy lifestyle changes, such as being physically active and eating healthy are the best ways to manage your prediabetes. Learn when medication may be needed, and the importance of taking it as prescribed.

Changing your eating and lifestyle behaviors is challenging and often frustrating. Learn how supportive friends, family members and healthcare team members can help make these changes easier for you.

Patients with prediabetes, that's an elevated blood sugar not in the diabetic range, can stay healthy if they make the right lifestyle choices. Exercising and eating right are a key part of that plan. Learn some simple tips to making healthy lifestyle choices.

Prediabetes is a common condition usually seen in patients who are overweight or obese. Not appropriately addressed, this condition of elevated blood sugars could go on to become full-blown diabetes. Little lifestyle changes related to diet and activity can go a long way to preventing diabetes.

Having diabetes does not mean you have to give up your favorite foods or stop eating in restaurants. In fact, there is nothing you can't eat. But you need to know that the foods you eat affect your blood sugar or blood glucose. By eating regular meals, thinking about the amount and types of food you eat, you can better control your diabetes and prevent other health problems.

Being active is an important part of being healthy, and not just by helping you lose weight. Activity gets your heart rate up, burns calories and strengthens your muscles and bones. That, in turn, lowers blood sugar and cholesterol, improves blood pressure and can improve your mood by lowering stress and anxiety.

Like many people with diabetes, you may need to take medication to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) level steady. Diabetes increases your risk for other health conditions, such as heart or kidney related problems, so you may need to take medicine to help with those, too.

When you have diabetes, your body doesn't properly manage blood sugar (glucose), its main source of fuel. To keep your blood sugar level on target and avoid problems with your eyes, kidneys, heart and feet, you may need to take medication. But you also need to monitor your blood sugar to see if it's too high or too low, so that you can get it back on track and prevent long-term health problems.

Life is filled with stress from traffic jams to more serious issues such as divorce or money problems. Add in the challenges of managing diabetes, and stress sometimes can feel overwhelming. It's important to find healthy ways to cope because having a lot of stress can increase your blood sugar levels. There are many healthy ways to cope with stress so you don't turn to harmful habits such as smoking, overeating, drinking alcohol or being less active.

Learn how small, positive changes in your lifestyle can lead to a lifetime of better blood glucose control.

Understand how regular A1C blood tests can help you know whether or not your diabetes management plan is working.

Making the most of your diabetes-related office visit takes preparation. The overall goal of the visit is to make you feel more confident and knowledgeable in managing this chronic condition and more likely to achieve your diabetes-related goals.