How to improve diabetes (10 ways)
Nowadays, diabetes management is getting very complicated – with more and more types of medication available
Nonetheless, some things do not change. For example, when your diabetes is not well controlled or you are unwell, your blood sugar or ketones can go too high, which can be very dangerous (even life-threatening).
So. What are 10 top tips for diabetes?
1. Know your medication
Know your normal insulin or diabetes medication, including dosages. Carry a note (or on your phone) of your current treatment plan and diabetes team contact details. Update this when things changes and ask if you are not sure.
2. Keep a good supply of medication
Make sure that you have a supply of diabetes medicine in advance so that you do not run out.
3. Know your target blood sugar and HbA1C range
And do not ignore if it is not correct (either high or low).
4. Having an infection
Being unwell with an infection, or dehydrated from not drinking enough, can cause your blood sugars to become too high. This can make you very unwell. So be aware about this issue; and make sure that you have people around you to support you – and help you seek medical support if needed.
Infections may be worse if you have diabetes. So if your medical condition is not improving, seek medical advice rather than wait.
5. Hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia (low and high blood sugar)
Be aware of your hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia symptoms. They can be found on the Diabetes UK website:
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/complications/hypos
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/complications/hypers.
6. Keep taking your diabetes medication
Even if you are not eating normally (especially ‘long acting’ insulin), unless directed to do so by your doctor or diabetes team.
But. The big BUT. You need to know which other medications that you should not take when unwell. These are called ‘sick day rules’. For example, if you are unwell, especially if you may become dehydrated (say due to an infection), and have CKD, you may need to stop certain tablets for a few days.
There are 7 sick day rule tablets, including diuretics (‘water tablets’; like Furosemide) and certain blood pressure tablets – called ACEs (‘prils’) or ‘ARBs (‘sartans’) – if you are on them.
7. If unsure about your medication (or anything)
Get in touch with you diabetes team, especially if you are unwell.
8. Check blood sugar more often when you are unwell
When you are unwell, check your blood sugar more often (every four hours whilst you are awake). And if you have type 1 diabetes, check your ketones as well.
If either of these are raised, you need to contact your diabetes team; or get urgent advice if it is out-of-hours. Do not ‘wait until the morning’. Keep eating and drinking as much as you can tolerate – little and often is a good plan.
9. Vomiting
If you have severe vomiting, or are not able to tolerate drinks, you need urgent medical help. There is a lower threshold to admit people with diabetes to hospital in this situation. You may need an intravenous drip, and/or someone else to give you insulin (if you are on it).
10. Illness not due to diabetes
If you do go to hospital and are unwell, even if it is not because of your diabetes, you need to tell those looking after you that you have diabetes straightaway. The illness may be connected. But, even if not, they will need to know about your diabetes and medication.
Summary
We have described how to improve diabetes (10 ways). We hope you have found it helpful.
