Taking good care of your health will play a vital role in reducing the complications of diabetes. Eating the proper foods, maintaining your weight, maintaining an exercise program and monitoring your blood glucose can control diabetes. You must also remember to check your feet daily and make sure to have a dilated eye exam annually. The following gives more details but please speak to your physician or a health care professional for more information.

About your eyes

Diabetes can lead to eye problems including blindness but the chances can be reduced by having an annual eye exam in which the pupils are dilated. This dilated eye exam can find any problems early, so that you can get needed treatment immediately. Even if your vision is fine or you see well, you should still have an dilated eye exam annually. Diabetes can lead to a disease called diabetic retinopathy, which damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina. Diabetes can also heighten your risks of developing cataracts (the lens of the eye becomes cloudy) or glaucoma (pressure builds up inside the eye). Don’t take your eyesight for granted, get your dilated eye exam now!

About your feet

Diabetes can cause damage to you feet. In order to protect yourself, make sure that when you visit your physician or health care provider, you take your shoes and socks off so that your feet can be checked. Remember, you must keep your feet in good shape. Here are some helpful tips:

o Check you feet everyday for sores, bruises or color changes
o Wash feet every day in warm water and pat dry
o Do not put oil or lotion between your toes
o Trim your toenails carefully
o Wear socks and comfortable shoes that protect and do not squeeze your feet (avoid shoes that go between your toes)
o Never go barefoot, even at home
o **Keep your blood sugar under control
o **Do not smoke

About exercise

Exercise or physical activity is a very important part of reducing diabetes complications. A little activity each day can help you live longer, healthier and happier. You can do simple activities that cost nothing and count towards a healthier life. Try to be consistent with the activity you chose. Some simple activities include:

o Walking at a brisk pace
o Raking or working in the garden
o Dance to a fast beat
o Riding a bicycle
o Cleaning your home
o Swimming

About nutrition

Good nutrition is an important part of staying healthy. Your meals should be well balanced and low in cholesterol. Here is one example of a full day of meals based on an 1800-calorie diet.

Breakfast

½ Cup Apple Juice
1 ½ Cup Unsweetened Cereal
2 Tablespoons Raisins
3 Graham Cracker Squares
1 Cup Low Fat Milk

Lunch
1 Cup Vegetable Soup
Turkey Sandwich
3 Ounces Turkey
1 Ounce Low-Fat Swiss Cheese
2 Slices Bread
1 Cup Lettuce And Tomato
1 Medium Apple
½ Cup Low Fat Milk

Dinner

3 Ounces Baked Fish
1 Cup Boiled Pasta With:
½ Cup Broccoli
½ Cup Green Onions
1/3 Cup Cranberry Juice
1 Cup Cantelope Cubes
½ Cup Low Fat Milk

HINT: Choose meats that are 90% lean to reduce fat in your diet. Avoid fried foods. Instead, prepare foods by baking, roasting and boiling.

Menu courtesy of Desiree James, RN, CDE