If you have diabetes, exercise is one of the best things you can do to help manage it. Regular activity is great for supporting healthy blood sugar levels, improving heart health, and helping your body use insulin better. Are you planning to start exercising? If so, it’s important to check your blood sugar before – and during – your workout. For people who take insulin, exercise can sometimes cause blood sugar to drop too low. Signs of low blood sugar can include: shakiness weakness dizziness sweating h...
You can help prevent most diabetes complications from developing if you take care of your diabetes. Use this list to stay on schedule with your diabetes management. Your primary care doctor or your diabetes care team may recommend a different schedule or different goals. If so, please follow their advice for your personal diabetes care schedule. Every Day: Blood sugar checks Foot check If you have cuts, redness, swelling, corns, calluses, or changes in your skin or nails, contact your doctor immediately...
You probably already know the basics of a healthy diet. Those guidelines include eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and limiting added sugars and highly processed foods. During cold and flu season, you might take a few extra steps to boost your wellness. Adding foods rich in vitamin C (citrus, berries, bell peppers, tomatoes), vitamin D (fatty fish, eggs, milk), beta carotene (sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach) and zinc (beef, seafood, beans, nuts, tofu) can help to boost your immune system, befo...
High blood pressure can be a serious health problem for people with chronic conditions like diabetes. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, a leading center for medical research, a person with high blood sugar (diabetes) is two times more likely to be affected by high blood pressure (also called hypertension) than a person who does not have diabetes. Two out of three adults with diabetes have high blood pressure. If high blood pressure is not treated, it can lead to a heart attack or a stroke. What is Bl...
Taking good care of your teeth and gums is important for your dental health. It’s also important for the health of your entire body. Brushing and flossing removes bacteria on and between your teeth. During professional cleanings, your dentist removes bacteria more thoroughly, including the areas just under your gumline. Bacteria can cause infections inside your teeth and gums. Harmful bacteria can then spread from your mouth to your bloodstream, creating problems throughout your body. A few of these hea...
Sometimes, staying healthy takes a little extra effort – and it’s nice when you can get rewarded for it! Parkland Community Health Plan’s Member Rewards program gives members the chance to earn reward points for completing health and wellness activities. Once you earn the points, you can use them to get gift cards and other items from a rewards catalog. One way to earn rewards: managing a chronic condition. Earn a $20 reward value when you: Complete a diabetic (retinal or dilated) eye exam (age 15 and o...
Does your child have diabetes? If so, you know that some days are easier, and some days are more challenging. Diabetes is a chronic condition. That means your child will need to manage their symptoms throughout their lives. The good news is you can help your child learn to plan ahead for any medical emergencies they might experience when away from home. A good place to start? By creating a diabetes management plan. Keep reading for tips for working with your child’s teachers, school nurse, and sports co...
Living with chronic conditions like asthma or diabetes can be tough – especially when your physical health starts to affect your mental well-being. You may have to deal with complications and changes to your lifestyle – and sometimes, the stigma associated with your condition can make it harder to manage. Not knowing how your health may change in the future can be stressful, too. All of these things can cause mental health problems like anxiety and depression. Recognizing Mental Health Symptoms When it ...
Sometimes, living with a chronic condition can feel overwhelming. But you don't have to go through it alone! PCHP’s Be In Control program helps members with chronic conditions to get resources that help them manage their health. If you’re part of the program, be sure to ask your case manager or doctor these questions: Am I using my medication correctly? To manage your condition, it’s important to understand the right way to take your medication. Ask your case manager or doctor about: How much medicine t...
The holiday season is here! At this busy time of year, it can be easy to forget about healthy habits, but it’s still important to take good care of yourself – especially if you have a chronic condition like diabetes. Check out these tips for how to enjoy the holidays while managing your diabetes: Watch your serving sizes. It can be easy to overfill your plate during a holiday meal. Plan to fill half your plate with vegetables, and the other half with lean protein foods (such as tofu, turkey, or c...
Have you or someone in your family recently been admitted to the hospital? Some common reasons for a hospital stay include surgery, childbirth, or treatment for complications from diabetes. If you are recovering from any of those conditions, keep reading. Here, you’ll find tips to help you to stay safe and healthy during your first few days—and weeks—back home. Symptoms that could be an emergency No matter what reason led to your hospital stay, you should call your doctor immediately if you experience: ...
Living with diabetes can be a challenge – but when you understand your condition, it’s easier to stay healthy. PCHP members have access to the Be in Control condition management program, which helps members manage chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes. Keep reading to hear about how you and your family can handle diabetes every day. What is condition management, and how can a Diabetic Educator help? Condition management programs offer education, coaching, and other services that can help people be...
Good health relies on three pillars: eating right, getting regular exercise, and sleeping well. If you have diabetes, you need to add two more pillars: performing regular foot exams and getting an annual eye exam. Why are these so important? Diabetes is one of the leading causes of vision loss in the United States. It is also one the main causes of amputations. Losing your eyesight or a limb is a shattering experience for most people. The good news is you can lower the risk with regular foot exams and a...
Planning ahead for severe weather is an important way to stay safe and healthy. That’s especially true if you have asthma or diabetes. Hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, floods, and other disasters can hit close to home. If you lost electrical power, would you be able to find your medication? If you had to evacuate, would you be ready to pack all medical supplies? Follow the tips here to plan ahead and take good care of yourself—rain or shine. Emergency Planning for Asthma Before the disaster: Ask your docto...
If you have diabetes, it’s important to manage your condition to lower the chance of complications. A combination of medicine, healthy eating, regular physical activity, and managing stress are all part of a healthy lifestyle that can help with diabetes control. One of the most important things you can do is keep track of your hemoglobin A1c. The A1c test is a blood test that’s usually done to diagnose diabetes or pre-diabetes. It measures the overall control of your blood glucose (blood sugar) over the...
It’s almost time for fall – and the start of a new school year. If you or child have diabetes, this can be a good time to get up to date with your recommended diabetes care. Visit your doctor for a checkup that includes the following: Adult Child Hemoglobin A1c lab test Usually every 3-6 months Usually every 3-6 months Referral for a diabetic eye exam Usually every one to two years, as recommended by your doctor Often starting at age 11, or as recommended by your doctor Complete foot exam to check for n...
If your child or teenager is overweight, they could be at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. When a person has type 2 diabetes, their body does not use insulin well. That means they cannot keep their blood sugar at normal levels. Over time, too much blood sugar stays in the body. This can cause serious problems such as: heart disease blindness kidney disease Type 2 diabetes used to be called “adult-onset diabetes.” However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , type 2 diabetes ...
There are many ways to improve your eating habits. Even small changes can make a big difference. If you want to focus on changing just one behavior, try this: Eat less added sugar. What are added sugars? A few examples include: honey brown sugar sucrose cane juice high-fructose corn syrup fructose fruit nectars malt syrup molasses raw sugar sucrose Sugar is hard on your body. It adds calories but has almost no nutrition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), eating a lot of ...