If you have diabetes, your health and your very life can depend on the choices you make on a day-to-day basis. The steps you need to protect yourself are really not that hard though. You just need to know what they are and then work them into your daily routine. Here is an outline of some of the most basic things that every diabetic needs to do in order to maintain good health.

Keep track of your blood glucose levels. Every diabetic will have different requirements in this area, but you will have to monitor your blood sugar levels to one extent or another. Your doctor will likely do blood tests on a regular basis that check how your glucose has been doing over the last few months. He also may want you to check your blood sugar levels yourself at home with a glucometer. Find out how often he recommends that you test, and then stick to that schedule. Finding out your sugar is too high or too low can alert you to danger and give you the information you need to correct it quickly.

Use the medicine your doctor prescribes for your diabetes. Many diabetics have to take some form of medication daily to help control their blood sugar levels. If your doctor has prescribed one or more of these medications, make sure you know exactly when and how to take them. There may be certain times of the day that you are supposed to use your medicine, and this timing can sometimes be quite critical. If you are prescribed an injectable medication, you need training to be sure you are administering it properly. Ask your medical professional to show you how to use your medication and demonstrate the proper injection technique and locations for you.

Even if you find it difficult, you need to exercise daily to help keep your blood sugars under control. Go for a short walk after dinner. Pop in an exercise tape and workout in front of your TV. Hop on a stationary bike and ride while you listen to a book on tape. Go to the mall, and join your fellow “mall walkers” for a laps around the hallways. Figure out some way to fit exercise into your daily routine. Your lifelong health depends on it.

Make sure you have all of your regular examinations done to maintain good health. Diabetes is prone to affecting certain areas of your body, so these regular checkups are vital to catching problems early. Have your doctor check your feet at each visit. Get regular eye exams to make sure there are no early diabetic changes that could eventually affect your eyesight. Have an annual urine specimen examined to make sure all is well. Visit your dentist regularly to ward off decay.

As you can see, there are lots of simple steps you can take to ensure that you protect your health even though you have diabetes. Even though your condition cannot presently be cured, there is a lot you can do to manage it successful and minimize the damage it does to your body. Put these tips into practice, and enjoy a longer, happier and healthier life.