2019-05-01_Diabetes_Self-Management

NEWS &

NOTES

DIABETES

RESOURCES

Springtime Check-up

S

pring has arrived—which means it’s not only time to

get your home in order, it's time to spring clean your

health routine as well. You owe it to yourself and your family

to use spring as the ideal time to do a mid-year check up

on your health. This will ensure you’re on track to meet

your health, nutrition and exercise goals for managing

diabetes throughout the rest of the year. Don’t know where

to start? Use this list to “dust off” your plans and get a jump

start on your springtime check-up.

Doctor visit. You may already see your doctor frequently

to monitor your diabetes, but if you haven’t been to the

doctor’s office lately, then it’s time to make an appoint-

ment. Whether this is your annual check-up or a periodic

visit, this is the perfect time to share important information

with your doctor about how you’re feeling and changes in

your health status both physically and emotionally. Share

any new symptoms, mention any new changes in your

eating habits or diet, talk about shifts in your sleeping

patterns and ask about whether it’s time for any new tests

or screenings. Be honest with your doctor. If you haven’t

been taking your medications as directed, eating as health-

ily as you like or anything else, speak up and talk about it.

Nutrition tune-up. Maybe eating healthier was one of

your New Year’s resolutions. It’s never too late to keep your

resolution and follow up with your nutritionist or dietician

to set some healthy eating goals. Pick one or two nutritional

goals as a starting point, and then add more once the others

become regular habits. Some examples may include: eat

vegetables or fruit as a snack each day, choose water over soda

or high-calorie, sugary drinks, or try a new healthy recipe

each week. If weight loss is one of your goals, try avoiding

second helpings during meals and snacks and make more

meals at home with healthy choices by using less fat when

cooking and baking and broiling rather than frying food.

Fitness routine: Committing to a regular exercise plan

can be challenging, but there’s plenty of proof about the

benefits of regular activity, including weight loss, lower

blood sugar levels, and stronger muscles and bones. Set

achievable goals for trying to do at least 150 minutes of

physical activity each week. Select an exercise that you really

enjoy that will help keep you interested—and motivated. †

Paul Wynn, a writer based in Garrison, New York, is a contributor

to Diabetes-Self Management.

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16 May/June 2019