Diabetes Care: 10 Ways to Avoid Complications

Diabetes care is a lifelong responsibility. Consider strategies to prevent diabetes complications.

Diabetes is a serious disease. Following your diabetes treatment plan takes round-the-clock commitment. But your efforts are worthwhile.  Careful diabetes care can reduce your risk of  serious — even life-threatening — complications.

Make a commitment to managing your diabetes.

Members of your diabetes care team — primary  care provider, diabetes care and education specialist, and dietitian, for example — can help you learn the basics of diabetes care and offer support along the way. But it's up to you to manage your condition. Learn all you can about diabetes. Make healthy eating and physical activity part of your daily routine. Maintain a healthy weight.

Monitor your blood sugar, and follow your health care provider's instructions for managing your blood sugar level. Take your medications as directed by your health care provider. Ask your diabetes treatment team for help when you need it.

Don't smoke.

Avoid smoking or quit smoking if you smoke. Smoking increases your risk of type 2 diabetes and the risk of various diabetes complications, including: reduced blood flow in the legs and feet, which can lead to infections, nonhealing ulcers and possible amputation, worse blood sugar control, heart disease, stroke, eye disease, which can lead to blindness, nerve damage, kidney disease, premature death.

Talk to your health care provider about ways to help you stop smoking or using other types of tobacco.

Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control.

Like diabetes, high blood pressure can damage your blood vessels. High cholesterol is a concern, too, since the resulting damage is often worse and more rapid when you have diabetes. When these conditions team up, they can lead to a heart attack, stroke or other life-threatening conditions.

Eating a healthy, reduced-fat and low salt diet, avoiding excess alcohol, and exercising regularly can go a long way toward controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol. Your health care provider may also recommend taking prescription medication, if necessary.

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