| Taking good care of your health will play a vital role in reducing the complications of diabetes. Eating the proper foods, maintaining your weight, maintaining an exercise program and monitoring your blood glucose can control diabetes. You must also remember to check your feet daily and make sure to have a dilatedeye exam annually. The following gives more details but please speak to your physician or a health care professional for more information. About your eyes
Diabetes can lead to eye problems including blindness but the chances can be reduced by having an annual eye exam in which the pupils are dilated. This dilated eye exam can find any problems early, so that you can get needed treatment immediately. Even if your vision is fine or you see well, you should still have an dilated eye exam annually. Diabetes can lead to a disease called diabetic retinopathy, which damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina. Diabetes can
also heighten your risks of developing cataracts (the lens of the eye becomes cloudy) or glaucoma (pressure builds up inside the eye). Don’t take your eyesight for granted, get your dilated eye exam now! About your feet
Diabetes can cause damage to you feet. In order to protect yourself, make sure that when you visit your physician or health care provider, you take your shoes and socks off so that your feet can be checked. Remember, you must keep your feet in good shape. Here are some helpful tips:
About exercise
Exercise or physical activity is a very important part of reducing diabetes complications. A little activity each day can help you live longer, healthier and happier. You can do simple activities that cost nothing and count towards a healthier life. Try to be consistent with the activity you chose. Some simple
About nutrition
Good nutrition is an important part of staying
healthy. Your meals should be well balanced and low in cholesterol. Here is one example of a full day of meals based on an 1800-calorie diet. Breakfast ½ Cup Apple Juice 1 ½ Cup Unsweetened Cereal 2 Tablespoons Raisins 3 Graham Cracker Squares 1 Cup Low Fat Milk Lunch 1 Cup Vegetable Soup Turkey Sandwich 3 Ounces Turkey 1 Ounce Low-Fat Swiss Cheese 2 Slices Bread 1 Cup Lettuce And Tomato 1 Medium Apple ½ Cup Low Fat Milk Dinner 3 Ounces Baked Fish 1 Cup Boiled Pasta With: ½ Cup Broccoli ½ Cup Green Onions 1/3 Cup Cranberry Juice 1 Cup Cantelope Cubes ½ Cup Low Fat Milk Dinner 3 Ounces Baked Fish 1 Cup Boiled Pasta With: ½ Cup Broccoli ½ Cup Green Onions 1/3 Cup Cranberry Juice 1 Cup Cantelope Cubes ½ Cup Low Fat Milk
HINT: Choose meats that are 90% lean to reduce fat in your diet. Avoid fried foods. Instead, prepare foods by baking, roasting and boiling. Menu courtesy of Desiree James, RN, CDE
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