Introduction
Living with type 1 diabetes for nearly 27 years has taught me a lot about managing my condition and myself. While I’ve made mistakes along the way, I have developed some solid habits that help me maintain an A1C below 6%. Diabetes isn’t easy, but adopting habits that work for you can make it more manageable. Here are seven diabetes habits I wish I had learned sooner, along with input from our community for additional insights.
Habit 1: Letting Go of Perfection
Managing diabetes effectively doesn’t mean striving for non-diabetic blood levels 24/7. Aiming for perfection can lead to frustration. Instead, set realistic goals that fit your life. My A1C is okay with both me and my medical team, even though it’s not perfect all the time. 15% of the time, my blood sugars are outside the range of 70-180 mg/dL, and I’m fine with that as long as it’s just a quick visit.
Habit 2: Regular Monitoring
Regularly measuring blood sugar levels or checking a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is crucial. It’s not about seeing it as a grade for your performance but as helpful information to manage your treatment. Establish a routine to check your numbers: in the morning, before and after meals, and at different points throughout the day. This regularity helps in making necessary adjustments whether for insulin, medication, or lifestyle changes.
Habit 3: Understanding Food Impacts
Diet plays a significant role in managing diabetes. Different foods and meal times can affect blood sugars differently. By structuring meals and consistently feeding the body at set times, it’s easier to observe patterns. If certain meals cause spikes, adjustments can be made, whether in portion sizes, meal composition, or insulin dosing. This approach turns seemingly random results into manageable variables.
Habit 4: Considering All Factors
Beyond diet, numerous factors can impact blood sugar levels – about 42, in fact. These include exercise, stress, sleep, and hydration, among others. Keeping a checklist helps in evaluating rises in blood sugar that seem unrelated to food. Identifying these contributors can lead to more holistic management of diabetes.
Habit 5: Rethinking “Free” Foods
Everything consumed can potentially affect blood sugar levels, even so-called “free” foods that are often presumed to have no impact. For some, salads, nuts, or even coffee can cause blood sugar levels to rise. The key is recognizing and accepting this potential and monitoring how different foods affect you personally, instead of assuming they are universally benign.
Habit 6: Staying Active
Physical activity is a powerful tool in lowering blood sugar levels and enhancing insulin sensitivity. Whether through walking, dancing, or resistance training, maintaining an active lifestyle is vital. Start slow if needed, and aim to incorporate movement in ways that are enjoyable to make it a sustainable habit.
Habit 7: Avoiding Comparisons
Each person’s diabetes journey is unique, and comparing one’s progress or results to others can be counterproductive. Blood sugar and treatment responses differ from person to person, so what works for one may not work for another. Learning from each other is valuable, but focusing on individual goals and progress is essential.
Community Insights
When asked about the most important diabetes habits, community responses highlighted food-related habits, with a surprising emphasis on mental health practices. Mental well-being is a critical aspect of managing diabetes, and resources supporting this are available for further exploration.
Conclusion
The habits shared here are general and can provide a framework for managing blood sugar levels effectively. If you’re interested in more specific strategies, particularly around meal-related blood sugar spikes, additional resources and guidance are available. The journey of managing diabetes is personal, yet learning and sharing can make it less solitary and more manageable.
