All Aspects of Diabetes Management Are Important
Dr. Edelman, who has been living with diabetes since the age of 15, is the founder
and director of Taking Control of Your Diabetes (TCOYD), a not-for-profit 501(c)3
diabetes education organization founded in 1995. Committed to promoting education,
motivation and self-advocacy for people living with diabetes, Dr. Edelman has become
a local, national and international leader in diabetes treatment, research, and
especially education. He champions the cause of patient advocacy and has dedicated
his life to helping people with diabetes live healthier lives.
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The most common cause of Diabetic Nerve Pain is poorly controlled blood sugar levels.
Over time, high blood sugar levels can result in nerve damage.
Controlled blood sugar levels may help prevent, stabilize, and delay further nerve
damage. Talk in earnest with your health care professional about what you can do
to manage your diabetes.
But Diabetic Nerve Pain may make it hard to do what is needed to manage your diabetes.
It can create a cycle where one problem just leads to another problem, which makes
the first problem even worse.
- Pain may make it difficult to stay physically active and focus on other areas of
diabetes care
- If you are not physically active and focusing on diabetes care, it may be hard to
keep your blood sugar levels close to the normal range
- In turn, if your blood sugar levels are raised for long periods of time (many months
or years), you may be more likely to develop more health problems. This may include
more nerve damage
- Finally, people with Diabetic Nerve Pain also have more risk for symptoms of depression,
which can further lower the drive to focus on the day-to-day parts of good diabetes
care.
Reducing your nerve pain level is important to help break this cycle. Talk to your
doctor about a prescription treatment option to try to
relieve some of your pain. When you feel less pain, you will find it is much easier
to try lifestyle changes like Kim
Lyons' activity tips.
Even Small Diet Changes Can Improve Control of Your Diabetes
Your diet is also a key part of your diabetes care. No surprise here, right? But
unlike some of the diet tips you may have read about in the past, my advice is not
just about the size of your jeans. I focus on diabetes management.
- Maintain a blood sugar level that is as close to normal as possible. That means
balancing your food intake with your activity levels. It might also mean using hypoglycemic
agents and/or insulin if needed
- No one dietary approach is right for everyone. So forget the fad diets. Work with
a registered dietician to find a meal plan and diet that works with your unique
needs and lifestyle
- Dietary changes do not need to be dramatic to provide clinically important results.
Dietary changes may improve blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and levels of fat
in your blood
- Avoid false promises and marketing scams. There are thousands—yes, thousands—of
questionable remedies that aren’t approved by the FDA