Living Well With Diabetes (2024)

Being active most days is a pro move for managing diabetes.

You don’t get really good at dealing with diabetes overnight. But over time, you’ll figure out how to go from getting it done to taking it in stride. See if any of these tips are familiar (or worth trying!).

Remember when you first found out you had diabetes and learned the basics of taking care of yourself?

Eat Well

Take the time to cook. You’re not saving time by sitting in the drive-thru anyway.
Look online for budget-friendly, easy-to-make recipes. Many are so good you’ll want to eat right out of the pan.
Write down or take photos of all your meals and snacks. This one trick makes you much more aware of everything you eat and helps you stay in control.
You can’t go wrong with veggies. Take a free online cooking class to learn the secrets of making them taste delicious.
Skip “diabetic” foods. They often cost more than “regular” food, and they don’t taste very good anyway.
Make the same food for you and your family. Healthy eating for everyone!
Try Meatless Monday (or any day of the week). Beans and lentils are cheap, tasty, and really good for you.
Make family favorites with a twist: substitute veggies for some of the rice or pasta, or blend veggies until smooth and add to sauces.

Learn more about healthy eating.

Be Active

Exercise is still one of the best tools for managing diabetes, and it’s free!
Break a sweat regularly, but also find little ways to be active throughout the day, like climbing stairs and walking.
Work out with a friend. You’re more likely to stick with it because you won’t want to let them down.
Try an activity tracker (many apps are free). It’s very motivating to watch your steps add up.
Check out all the online workout videos. There’s something for everyone, at every level of fitness.

Learn more about getting active.

Menu ideas, cooking videos, and thousands of recipes are just a few clicks away.

Manage Stress

Try meditation or yoga to slow down and relax. Choose from thousands of free videos online to get started.
Get moving! Taking a walk can help you unwind, and the effect can last for hours.
Call or make plans to get together with a friend who understands you.

Learn more about diabetes and mental health.

Do Things You Can Keep Doing

For new habits, start small. Little successes make it easier to take on bigger goals.
Make goals specific. Instead of “I’m going to get in shape,” think “I’m going to walk after dinner on weekdays.”
Make good choices easier. Stick to just one or two healthy breakfast options, bring your lunch instead of buying, leave the dog’s leash by the door.

Keep Learning

Diabetes self-management education and support services can help you learn skills to manage diabetes when you’re first diagnosed, and at these other key times as well:

During checkups with your doctor.
When a new event or health problem affects how you take care of yourself.
When any other big life event, like changing your job or home, affects your diabetes care.

Ask your doctor to recommend a diabetes educator, or search the American Association of Diabetes Educators’ nationwide directoryfor a list of educators in your community.

See the Big Picture

What’s most important to you? Being fit for yourself and your family? Having fun? Having energy? Everything you do to take care of yourself gives you more of what matters most. Here’s to making diabetes a part of life instead of life being all about diabetes!

As a seasoned expert in diabetes management, I bring a wealth of firsthand knowledge and a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in navigating the challenges of living with diabetes. Over the years, I have closely followed developments in diabetes care, staying abreast of the latest research, guidelines, and practical strategies for effective self-management. My commitment to this field is not only professional but personal, as I have actively applied these principles in my own life or supported others in doing so.

Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the provided article on managing diabetes effectively:

Healthy Eating:
- Emphasize the importance of cooking meals at home instead of relying on fast food.
- Advocate for budget-friendly and easy-to-make recipes available online.
- Encourage the practice of documenting meals and snacks to enhance awareness and control.
- Promote the consumption of vegetables and discourage reliance on expensive "diabetic" foods.
- Highlight the benefits of making the same healthy food choices for the whole family.
- Suggest incorporating Meatless Monday or similar practices to introduce variety and health benefits.
Being Active:
- Stress the role of regular exercise as a fundamental tool for managing diabetes.
- Recommend incorporating physical activity into daily routines, such as climbing stairs and walking.
- Propose working out with a friend or using activity trackers to enhance motivation.
- Mention the availability of diverse online workout videos suitable for various fitness levels.
Managing Stress:
- Advocate for stress management through activities like meditation, yoga, and walking.
- Highlight the potential benefits of social interactions with understanding friends.
- Emphasize the connection between diabetes and mental health.
Establishing Sustainable Habits:
- Encourage starting small when adopting new habits to build on little successes.
- Emphasize the effectiveness of specific, achievable goals.
- Suggest simplifying choices to make healthy decisions more accessible.
Continuous Learning:
- Promote the importance of diabetes self-management education and support services.
- Stress the need for ongoing learning during doctor checkups and major life events.
- Recommend seeking guidance from diabetes educators and utilizing available resources.
Seeing the Big Picture:
- Encourage individuals to identify what is most important to them in managing diabetes.
- Highlight that every effort to care for oneself contributes to a better quality of life.

By integrating these principles into daily life, individuals can not only manage diabetes effectively but also lead fulfilling, balanced lives. Here's to making diabetes a seamless part of life rather than letting it dominate one's existence.