Diabetes is stressful. It is very stressful trying to cope with a chronic, permanent, and invisible disease. Managing negative stress helps manage diabetes. Good self-management of diabetes uses five basic concepts. These five concepts are:
- Blood sugar testing
- Nutrition
- Physical activity
- Medication
- Stress management
Good management of diabetes requires the use of all these concepts. Blood sugar testing helps you set reasonable blood sugar level goals to achieve. Nutrition involves creating a new style of eating that includes eating healthy foods in reasonable quantities. Physical activity and exercise will benefit you for a long term of time. This and nutrition help control weight which is a big factor in diabetes. The fourth major concept of controlling diabetes is to take medications prescribed by your doctor. Medications are not always needed and have their side effects, but should be used as needed. The benefits outweigh the risks. Stress management is the fifth important concept to successfully controlling diabetes. Stress relief is very useful to people with diabetes. Stress raises the blood glucose level which harms the body over time. By using all five of these concepts, you can successfully manage diabetes.
