Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
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Learn the four pillars for effective diabetes management.
There are four pillars of diabetes management that are all necessary to closely pay attention to in order to keep your diabetes under control.
The four pillars of diabetes management are:
1. Diet: Be sure to watch what you eat and drink. Learn which foods and combination of foods are OK to eat because they will not cause your blood glucose to rise beyond safe levels after you eat. In general be sure to eat often enough to avoid hypoglycemia, but when you do eat, avoid simple carbohydrates that boost blood sugar too rapidly.
If you are over 65 years old and on Medicare Part B, be sure to take advantage of your Medicare coverage that includes services of a dietitian for medical nutrition therapy. The dietitian can analyze your particular situation and give recommendations to develop a healthy eating plan to control your blood glucose.
2. Exercise:
Exercising daily is essential to properly managing your blood glucose level. Fortunately, only a moderate amount of daily exercise is necessary to significantly improve your health and well being. In general, exercise lowers your blood glucose level as long as you exercise in moderation. However, too rigorous exercise has the opposite effect and will temporarily increase your blood glucose levels.
Be sure to work with your doctor or healthcare professional to determine the right kind and amount of exercise that is appropriate for you to help manage your daily blood glucose level.
3. Testing:
Testing is critical for monitoring the effect that food, exercise, and medication is having on your blood glucose level throughout the day. In general, it is important to test your blood glucose level before and after eating, exercising, and taking medication. It is also good to know your blood glucose level when you first wake up in the morning and just before you go to bed at night.
Be sure to work with your doctor or healthcare professional to determine the best times to test your blood glucose that you can record in a historical log for future reference.
4. Medication:
The medications that you take can also affect your blood glucose levels. It is important to test your blood glucose levels before and after taking medications to determine their effect on your blood glucose so that medication amounts can be managed effectively. It is particularly important to monitor your blood glucose when starting out on any new medication.
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How diabetes can be managed effectively to reduce risk of future complications.
The long-term complications of diabetes can be avoided or at least significantly delayed by being careful to keep your blood glucose level consistently within a safe range as determined by your doctor.
The long-term complications of diabetes are severe and non-reversible; therefore, every effort should be made to eat, exercise, and take your medications properly to keep your blood glucose under control to minimize your risk of developing long-term diabetes complications. These complications can include: heart disease, kidney disease, eye disease, neuropathy (nerve disease), peripheral vascular disease, and other complications.
By managing your blood glucose level properly and consistently on a daily basis, you can greatly minimize your risk of developing long-term diabetes complications.
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How to test properly to reduce your risk of progressing to Pre-diabetes or Diabetes.
There are some medical professionals that advise that if you have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes or are prone to getting pre-diabetes because of an existing insulin resistance condition, you may be able to avoid further progression to full diabetes by keeping your blood glucose level below approximately 140-160 mg/dL.
Maintaining your blood glucose level consistently below a critical threshold can be accomplished by being careful to eat properly, exercise consistently, and monitor your blood glucose carefully after eating and exercising.
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Understand how diabetics take control to live a normal and fulfilling life.
Diabetics can take control of their diabetes and live full and productive lives. Diabetes shouldn't stop you from doing what you want to do in life... you just have to be careful to live a healthy lifestyle (which you should be doing anyway).
In general, to maintain a high quality of life and keep your diabetes under control, it is important to learn how to:
1. Keep your blood glucose as normal as possible by eating properly, exercising daily and testing your blood glucose level often to make adjustments.
2. Get plenty of support from family, friends and medical resources to help you stay consistent and maintain a positive attitude.
3. Avoid stress as much as possible.
4. Stay aware of the latest developments in diabetes care.
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Practical advice on how to make diabetes management easier and less stressful.
You can learn from other diabetics that are successfully living well with diabetes daily. Here are the common principles used by those who are most successful with managing their diabetes:
1. They have a comprehensive but realistic plan for what to eat, and what to avoid eating, that provides enough variety to follow consistently.
2. They have a practical plan for daily moderate exercise that can be enjoyed enough to stay motivated.
4. They make consistent efforts to avoid and minimize stress in their life.
5. They stay active with their family, friends, and interests to keep a positive outlook.
6. They get adequate support by keeping a log of their daily blood glucose levels and keeping their doctor informed about those numbers. They also have caring and understanding family and friends that encourage them to stay consistent with their diabetes management plan. In addition, they stay informed about diabetes management from educational classes, book, magazines, etc.
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Find out what other related services Medicare covers in addition to your diabetic supplies.
In addition to covering 80% of the cost of your diabetes supplies, Medicare Part B will cover the following additional services for qualified beneficiaries:
1. Diabetes Self-Management Training: Diabetes outpatient self-management training is a covered program to teach you to manage your diabetes. It includes education about self-monitoring of blood glucose, diet, exercise, and insulin.
2. Yearly Eye Exam: Medicare covers yearly eye exams for diabetic retinopathy.
3. Foot Exam: A foot exam is covered every six months for people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and loss of protective sensations, as long as you haven't seen a foot care professional for another reason between visits.
4. Glaucoma Screening:Medicare covers glaucoma screening every 12 months for people with diabetes or a family history of glaucoma, African Americans age 50 and older, or Hispanics age 65 and older.
5. Medical Nutrition Therapy:
Medical nutrition therapy services are covered for people with diabetes or kidney disease when referred by a doctor.
6. Diabetes Screening:
Medicare covers tests to check for diabetes; you may be eligible for up to two diabetes screenings every year.
You pay 20% of Medicare-approved amounts for outpatient facility charges or doctor services. If you use an external insulin pump, the insulin and the pump could be covered by Medicare as durable medical equipment.
Medicare also covers therapeutic shoes or inserts for people with diabetes who have severe diabetic foot disease, if these conditions are certified by the doctor who treats your diabetes.
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