Diabetes management: medications, blood sugar, and your feet!

Living a healthy lifestyle with diabetes

This article provides a plan put together by Diabetes Canada for medication, blood sugar, heart health, and as promised foot care for your diabetes.

Did you know?

There are a variety of diabetes medications on the market. Used alongside other interventions, they can help normalize blood sugar levels. Some also have the extra bonus of protecting your heart and kidneys!

Talk to your healthcare provider or community pharmacist to see what options are right for you.

Medications can be easy to forget! Diabetes medications work best when they are taken regularly as directed. Consider using a tool like this one to develop an action plan around taking your medications correctly.

Did you know?

Blood sugar monitoring is an important component of diabetes management. Your healthcare provider will request occasional blood work to check your average sugar level over time – this is called hemoglobin A1C.

Ask your healthcare provider if it would also be beneficial for you to do some glucose self-monitoring and, if yes, what monitoring device is best for you.

Many things, including food, activity, medications and stress, can affect blood sugar. Recommended blood sugar targets for most people living with diabetes are 4-7 mmol/L when fasting and 5-10 mmol/L two hours after eating, but can be individualized.

Get an idea of how often and when to test your sugars here.

Did you know?

Diabetes and heart disease go hand in hand – people living with diabetes are at a greater risk for heart attacks and strokes than those who don’t have diabetes.

Keeping your cholesterol and blood pressure well-managed helps reduce the likelihood of a cardiovascular incident.

There are lots of things you can do to help keep your heart healthy when you live with diabetes.

Check out some actionable advice here.

Did you know?

It’s important when you live with diabetes to keep an eye on your feet!

High blood sugar over time can lead to nerve damage and poor circulation, putting areas like the feet at risk for injuries and infection.

Show your feet some love! Gently clean and dry them, keep your skin soft with lotion and your nails trimmed, and wear shoes that are comfortable and fit well.

For more info about how to care for your feet, have a look here.

Taking care of your overall health is an important part of managing your diabetes. We hope the tips above can help you stay on top of your health goals.

The information provided in this article is for information purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition(s).