The diabetes checklist

The key to a successful diabetes management is to keep track of your goals, test results, lifestyle interventions and the diabetes ABCs (A1C, Blood Pressure and Cholesterol).

• Plan your meals and keep to a balanced meal plan. Consult with your dietician once a year
  • Include more produce, lean meat, legumes and wholegrains
  • Include moderate amounts of oily fish and nuts
• Reduce/eliminate processed food, trans fat, saturated fats
• Get 30-minutes of moderate-intensity activity every day – or at least 2.5hours a week
  
• Maintain a BMI of 23 or aim to lose about 10% of your body weight
• Follow your medicine plan and keep to the timings prescribed. Take your pills even if you feel well
•  Keep a list of the medicines you take and the doses. Keep this list on hand at all times
  
• Test your blood glucose levels as regularly as prescribed. If there is an unexplained dip (under 70mg/dl) or increase (160 mg/dl) more than once a week, call your doctor
  
• See your doctor/health care team once every three or four months
• Do your A1C and cholesterol test at least twice a year
• Monitor your blood pressure daily. Bring up any anomalies with your doctor
• If you haven’t already, QUIT smoking. If you don’t smoke, never start
  
• Have your eyes checked once a year
• Have your feet checked once a day
  
• See your dentist twice a year
• Get your flu vaccine twice a year
• Practice good personal hygiene
• Learn to manage stress
• Continue to read and learn about diabetes