Women holding blackberries with text on image

Living healthier with diabetes

OCT 16, 2015

While there are certain risk factors you can’t change, like your family history, knowing your risks for diabetes lets you decide what’s best for your health.

Celebrate healthy changes

As always, the best way to lower your risks is to exercise, eat healthy, and lose any extra pounds.

Play detective

Find out what you don’t know about your family history, especially when it comes to chronic conditions.

Stay in check

Low blood sugar levels can cause sudden mood swings in some people, so don’t go too long between eating meals.

Indulge smart

When you want to satisfy your sweet tooth, be mindful of your choices. A serving of berries is almost always better than a pastry or chocolate.

Diabetes is a rapidly growing health problem. Currently, more than 21 million people in the United States have diabetes. Without care, diabetes can lead to complications that include kidney failure, eye problems, nerve damage, heart disease and high blood pressure, stroke, and more.

The good news: although diabetes is a lifelong condition, by taking action you can live a healthy life. Whether you’re newly diagnosed with diabetes or have been living with it for some time, these steps are key to keeping diabetes under control:

Keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels well controlled:
- Test your blood sugar to be sure it is in the target range set by you and your doctor.
- Take blood sugar medication as prescribed by your doctor.
Eat a healthy diet. The right nutrition is key to preventing, delaying, or better managing diabetes.
Aim for a healthy weight. If you’re overweight, losing as little as 7 to 15 pounds can make a big difference in your health.
Stay or become more physically active. Try walking for 30 minutes at least 5 days a week.