Managing diabetes takes four steps

From elpasotimes.com

Diabetes is a disease that affects how the body uses blood sugar.
Having too much sugar in your blood can lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease, nerve damage, eye problems and kidney disease.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 29.1 million Americans have diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults.
With type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce the hormone insulin, which helps your body use the sugars and starches you eat. With type 2 diabetes, blood sugar levels rise higher than normal and the body is not able to make enough insulin to keep your blood sugar at normal levels.
The CDC estimates that 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes each year.
November is National Diabetes Month with the intent to bring awareness about the impact of diabetes on millions of Americans to individuals, health care professionals, organizations and communities across the country. The National Diabetes Education Program’s theme this year is "Managing Diabetes."
There are four steps to Manage Your Diabetes.
Step 1: Learn about diabetes.  Know the difference between the different types of diabetes.
Step 2: Know your diabetes ABCs (A-1-C test, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol). The A1C is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar over the past three months. B is for blood pressure. If your blood pressure gets too high, it makes your heart work too hard and can lead to a heart attack or stroke. C is for cholesterol. Find out what your cholesterol numbers are and what they should be.
Step 3: Learn how to live with diabetes. Stress can raise your blood sugar. Learn about different ways to lower your stress, like deep breathing or talking a walk. Eat a balanced diet. Choose foods that are lower in calories and have more fibre. Be physically active. Set goals to be active every day. Start off slow by taking 10-minute walks and gradually increase the amount of time you spend being physically active each week.
Step 4: Get routine checkups to stay healthy.
Maintaining a healthy weight is extremely important for someone who has diabetes. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of complications and other health problems.
According to the American Diabetes Association, obesity affects more than one in three adults and nearly 17 percent of children in the United States. Losing a few pounds through a healthy meal plan and exercise will help control diabetes.
Learn about different ways to lose weight in a healthy way. Find a weight loss plan that works best for you. Eating well-balanced meals and participating in regular physical activity are the keys to managing diabetes.

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