For those living with diabetes, it can be easy to become overwhelmed by your diabetes and all that comes along with it.  But it is possible to break that mind set and realize living successfully with diabetes is achievable.
   The key to keeping blood glucose levels at your goal is to balance the food you eat with your physical activity and any medication you may take.
   Test your sugars frequently; it will help you learn how foods affect your glucose levels.
   A normal fasting glucose is generally less than 100 mg.dl and a non-fasting normal glucose is generally below 140 mg.dl.
   Setting personal glucose goals and maintaining those goals is very important for anyone living with diabetes.  It is proven that good glucose control is a key factor in the prevention of long term complications such as blindness, sores that do not heal, kidney failure, heart disease, and frequent infections.
   What you eat is one of the most important aspects of managing diabetes.  Don't fight against good nutrition.  Find tips and ideas to make healthful eating a part of your busy lifestyle.  It is very important to understand the effect of carbohydrates on blood glucose.  Carbohydrate containing foods raise blood glucose levels.  By Keeping track of how many carbohydrates you eat and setting a limit for your maximum amount to eat, you can help to keep your blood glucose levels on track.
   Being active plays a large part in preventing diabetes complications.  It can also help in the preventing of type 2 diabetes.  People with diabetes and without diabetes should aim for a minimum of 30 minutes most days.  Walking, gardening, doing yard work, swimming, or cleaning house will all work to meet this goal.  Anything that increases your heart rate and causes you to break a light sweat.  Take one step at a time.  Slowly build up to your goal.
   If you take medication related to your diabetes, it is very important to monitor it closely.  Make a list of your medications, dosage, and purpose and keep it with you.  This small step can prepare you and decrease your stress level when the need for the information arises.
   It is important to see your doctor regularly, he or she may suggest these tests as a part of your health plan.
     - Hemoglobin Alc - a blood test that gives an average of 3 month blood glucose levels.
     - Annual eye exam with dilation test.  This will show if any damage has occurred to the small vessels in the back of your eyes.
     - Regular blood pressure checks,
     - A urine test for microalbumin to test for kidney function.  A blood test for creatinine can also evaluate this.
     - Cholesterol screening which studies good cholesterol (HDL), bad cholesterol (LDL), and triglycerides.
   The American Diabetes Association has many down-to-earth tips and easy-to-use advice on how to get through the day-to-day hurdles of diabetes,  Visit the ADA website at www.diabetes.org for more information.