diabetic living JULY/AUGUST 2017 85hroughout our lives we face all
kinds of challenges, from work
projects to moving house. By
approaching your diabetes in the same
organised, proactive way, it’s possible to
minimise complications and feel better.T
Here’s the truth: diabetes is
progressive. That means that
even if you’re hyper-vigilant
about monitoring, eating well,
getting enough exercise and
sleep, you’ll still experience
challenges with managing
your blood glucose levels
(BGLs) over the years.
For people with type 2
that can mean starting on
medication as well as keeping
up with lifestyle changes, and
for those with type 1 it could
be regularly adjusting (and
readjusting) your insulin
dosage. This is the reality of
living with diabetes, but there
are ways to manage it so you
maintain a sense of control.
Our experts explain how.
Stay on target
DL dietitian and diabetes
educator Dr Kate Marsh says
achieving BGLs within your
target range along with
managing blood pressure and
cholesterol can be done by
following healthy lifestyle
habits. Such as? Dr Marsh
advises eating a mostly plant-
based diet (try our Roasted
beet, pumpkin and barley
salad, page 57) exercising
regularly, getting seven to
eight hours sleep a night and
learning to manage stress.Keep learning
DL dietitian Lisa Urquhart
encourages people with type 1
to “keep improving your
knowledge and applying it to
yourself and your life. Also,
ask your healthcare team
about any new technologies.”Find support
Working with a supportive
health team to set manageable
outcomes is vital. “There
might be complications along
the way. If something isn’t
working, try something else,”
advises DL endocrinologist
Dr Sultan Linjawi.
“Judge your health on the
numbers – your BGLs, blood
pressure and blood fats such
as cholesterol. Attend your
routine health checks because
the numbers never lie.” In
other words, be proactive! ➤“If something isn’t working,
try something else”