Help control diabetes with these 6 tips

If you have diabetes, you know the challenges that come along with it. There are several things that affect your blood sugar levels. But with the right knowledge, your diabetes can be manageable.

Here's a refresher on six tips that can help you control your diabetes.

Focus on food

Food is probably one of the most important elements of managing diabetes. You not only need to watch what you eat, but also how much you eat, and how the foods you eat affect your blood sugar levels.

• Make your meals well-balanced. Eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Go for nonfat dairy and lean meats, and limit food with high sugar and fat content. Talk with your health care provider about the best food choices for you.

• Know how much to eat with your medication. If you eat too much or too little food in proportion to your diabetes medication, it can result in a spike or drop in your blood sugar.

• Keep track of your carb intake. Carbohydrates have a big impact on your blood sugar levels because they turn into sugar. If you're taking insulin, you need to know how many carbs are in your food so you can take the proper insulin dose. One of the easier ways to control your carb intake is to try keeping it the same from meal to meal.

• Understand the Glycemic Index (GI). The GI is a way to understand which foods contain slower-acting “good carbs” versus the faster-acting “bad carbs.” A food with a high GI (70 or higher) raises blood glucose more than food with a low GI (55 or less).

Talk with your doctor about incorporating the GI into your lifestyle. There are also free online resources to help you calculate the GI of your food, as well as charts listing the GI of common foods.

Excel at exercise

When you exercise, your muscles use sugar (glucose) for energy. Regular exercise also helps your body use insulin more efficiently, and can help you lose weight and destress — both of which can help lower your blood pressure.

Most adults should aim for 30 minutes a day. It doesn't have to be strenuous exercise, just any activity that gets your heart rate going. Talk with your doctor before beginning an exercise program, as well as for any other recommendations, such as whether you should monitor your blood sugar level before and after exercising.

See your doctor

Because diabetes can cause other serious problems, like heart disease or foot ulcers and nerve damage, it's recommended that you see your doctor at least twice a year.

Ask your doctor about alcohol consumption

Alcohol can aggravate diabetes complications, such as nerve damage and eye disease. It can also result in low blood sugar shortly after you've finished your drink, and for as many as 24 hours afterward. Check with your health care professional for guidance on whether you can have an occasional alcoholic beverage.

Don't stress

Stress can affect diabetes in two ways: It can raise blood sugar levels, and make it hard to stay on top of diabetes management routines. If you're under stress, talk to a professional — many mental health professionals offer their services over the phone. Or try relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing or yoga. If you don't want to attend a yoga class in person, follow along with a video at home.

Don't smoke

Diabetes can make you more susceptible to other health problems — such as heart disease, eye disease, stroke, kidney disease, blood vessel disease, nerve damage, and foot problems. And if you smoke, you're even more at risk of developing these secondary health issues. Quitting can be difficult — talk with your doctor about ways you can quit smoking.