The key to diabetes control: Stick to your treatment plan

For the 1 in 16 South African adults currently living with diabetes, managing this chronic condition properly is imperative to reduce the risk for health complications.

Health complications linked to poor diabetes management

Poor diabetes management can increase your risk for complications such as:

Heart disease:
Those living with poorly controlled diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop heart disease.

Amputations:
Poor blood sugar control can lead to nerve damage, often in the feet and hands. Around 1 400 to 2 400 lower limb amputations in South Africa are directly linked to diabetes.

Vision loss:
Diabetes is the third leading cause of blindness in South Africa, as uncontrolled blood sugar can damage the blood vessels in your eyes.

Kidney disease:
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of kidney disease, which affects just over 12% of South Africans.

How can you manage diabetes?

Your healthcare provider will guide you on a treatment plan that includes lifestyle changes to help you maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

This includes:

Taking your medicine as prescribed
Following a healthy diet:

Including non-starchy vegetables (such as green beans, cabbage and carrots) and whole fruits (those with a low glycaemic index like apples, oranges and guavas) in moderation
Choosing lean meats instead of processed foods and takeaways
Drinking water, herbal teas without added sugar and unsweetened drinks, and avoiding alcohol and sugary drinks like fruit juices, sodas and energy drinks

Exercising regularly
Monitoring your blood sugar levels
Never missing appointments with your healthcare provider

Tips to help you follow your diabetes treatment plan

You can make sure you manage diabetes effectively by:

Setting reminders on your phone to take your medicine
Using a pill organiser
Including medical appointments in your calendar
Tracking your diet and blood sugar with an app or notebook
Leaning on your support system, such as family and friends
Consulting a diabetes nurse educator for specialised diabetes care

Managing diabetes requires lifelong dedication. By holding to your treatment plan each day, you will improve your quality of life and help reduce the risk of health complications.

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