{"id":17413,"date":"2023-04-19T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-19T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=17413"},"modified":"2025-10-17T13:34:40","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T18:34:40","slug":"everything-you-need-to-know-about-mastering-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-mastering-diabetes\/","title":{"rendered":"Diabetes Management: Your Complete Guide to Living Well with Diabetes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Living with diabetes means giving your body daily attention. That can feel stressful<\/a>, but the good news is you don\u2019t have to do it alone. With a structured diabetes management plan, regular diabetic testing and support from your diabetes care team, you can take control of your health.<\/p>\n

Marie Schaafsma, a diabetes educator at OSF HealthCare, shares practical strategies for managing diabetes day to day and reducing some of the stress that comes with consistent monitoring.<\/p>\n

Lifestyle Habits to Help Manage Diabetes<\/h2>\n

Managing diabetes starts with your everyday choices. A healthy lifestyle, including eating the right foods, regular exercise and taking medications as prescribed, is the foundation of an effective diabetes management plan.<\/p>\n

What should people with diabetes eat?<\/h3>\n

Food plays a big role in diabetes management. Eating three meals a day at the same time each day helps your body use insulin more effectively. It\u2019s best to try to eat meals every four hours, with the last meal being eaten at least two to three hours before bedtime.<\/p>\n

\u201cFollowing a healthy, balanced meal plan that allows for a variety of non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins and fewer processed carbohydrates makes a big difference,\u201d Marie said. \u201cCutting back on sweets, starches, grains and some fruits can help lower blood glucose readings. Increasing proteins and non-starchy veggies will keep you fuller, longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meal sequencing is another strategy that those with diabetes can use to help manage glucose levels. It involves eating foods in a specific order.<\/p>\n

\u201cEating non-starchy veggies first, protein and fat second and carbohydrates last can help reduce spikes in blood sugar after meals,\u201d said Marie.<\/p>\n

Your primary care physician can connect you with a diabetic educator or dietitian who can help build a diabetes management plan that works for you.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour diabetes care team will focus on a plan that fits your lifestyle and helps you make healthy, nutritious choices,\u201d said Marie.<\/p>\n

Exercise for Diabetes Management<\/h3>\n

Exercise is important for managing diabetes. It can improve your blood sugar, help you manage your weight and reduce the risk of complications like heart attack and stroke.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny kind of physical activity helps, but something that gets the heart and blood pumping for 15 to 30 minutes each day is ideal,\u201d Marie said.<\/p>\n

This could be a vigorous walk, riding a bike, swimming, joining a fitness class or lifting weights.<\/p>\n

Diabetes Medication and Care Plan<\/h3>\n

Taking your medication as prescribed can also be a key part of your diabetes management plan. Many people with Type 2 diabetes take oral medications and some people need insulin shots.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen taken as prescribed, diabetes medications work alongside healthy habits to help keep blood sugar in a healthy range and prevent complications,\u201d said Marie.<\/p>\n

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Ready to take control of your diabetes??<\/p>\n

Talk to your provider <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Tests for Diabetes and Ongoing Screening<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s important to stay up to date on all health checks to avoid running into severe complications<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Checking Your Blood Sugar Levels<\/h3>\n

When your body doesn\u2019t make or respond to insulin properly, your glucose levels may rise. Checking your blood sugar throughout the day, especially before meals, can help you understand how food, exercise, stress and medication affect your diabetes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you only test your blood sugar once a day, the best time is first thing in the morning before you eat anything,\u201d said Marie. \u201cThis helps to get a natural, baseline measurement without the influence of recent meals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Checking Your A1C Levels<\/h3>\n

An\u00a0A1C test\u00a0measures your average blood sugar over two to three months. Most people with Type 2 diabetes should aim for an A1C of 7% or less, though your provider may set an individual target.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn A1C is one of the most skipped tests in managing diabetes,\u201d said Marie. \u201cBut it\u2019s a really helpful way to see how well your diabetes has been managed over time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Plan to get this test every three to six months as part of your diabetic testing routine.<\/p>\n

Other Diabetes Screenings<\/h3>\n
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Download<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Other essential diabetes screenings include:<\/p>\n