From health.com
There are many factors to consider when managing type 2 diabetes. Having healthcare providers and products that can help you along your journey can make management easier. Health’s Type 2 Diabetes Advocate Alysse Dalessandro has six things in her “diabetes toolbox.” She explains what’s in this toolbox and how these things have helped her.
Managing diabetes comes with good days, bad days, and everything in between. Eight years into living with type 2 diabetes, I am still learning new tips and tricks every day that help me get more in touch with what’s going on in my body.
You cannot manage diabetes alone or in a vacuum. As technology improves and new studies emerge, I wouldn’t say living with diabetes gets easier, but I have gotten more empowered. I feel more armed with the tools and the knowledge I need to best manage living with this chronic illness.
I want to share what helps me, hoping it can help you, too! Here is what is in my diabetes toolbox—my six must-haves for living with type 2 diabetes.
1. A Primary Care Provider You Trust
First things first, the best tool in your kit is your care team! As a plus-size person, I know all too well what it’s like to have your concerns dismissed and brushed off with a “just lose weight” comment. You want a healthcare provider who listens to you, hears your concerns, and is committed to treating you as more than a number on the scale.
I have been with my primary care doctor through nearly all of my diabetes journey. Although she was not fully versed on the Health at Every Size (HAES) approach I was looking for—when a healthcare provider doesn’t put the main focus on weight loss—she was open to learning. We focused on the number that is the best measure of my diabetes: My A1C. I knew that we were on the same page recently when my doctor walked in shouting, “Congratulations!” after the lowest A1C reading I had had in five years despite the number on the scale being an all-time high. She is my doctor because our values align. She understands that weight does not equate with health.
All this to say, find a doctor who treats you how you want to be treated. If you want patient-centred care, you deserve that! Do you want tough love? Find that doctor to push you. Don’t settle for a doctor who isn’t part of the team and dedicated to managing your diabetes along with you.
2. A Continuous Glucose Monitor To Keep Blood Sugar in Check
When I first got diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I was handed a piece of paper with times that I should finger stick to check my blood glucose (sugar) levels. At first, I kept to that schedule, and my doctor and I would discuss the blood sugar trends every three months during appointments.
As I got more comfortable living with diabetes, I found myself checking my blood sugar less often. I needed a tool that could hold me accountable and keep me better in touch with my numbers. It turns out that this paper and pen method pales in comparison to using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
A few finger pricks a day can never give you the same kind of data as the 24/7 tracking you can get from current CGMs on the market. Currently, I love wearing the new Stelo CGM for folks like me with type 2 diabetes who are non-insulin dependent. It could also be good for people with prediabetes.
Always pack an extra CGM while traveling, and don’t forget extra waterproof patches when you know you’ll be spending a lot of time in the water.
3. A Water Bottle That Encourages All-Day Hydration
When you have type 2 diabetes and are not dependent on insulin, water consumption plays a huge role. As blood glucose levels rise, drinking water is one of the main tools to help lower your sugars. Water helps flush out sugar from the kidneys.
Developing a habit of drinking water can be a challenge. For me, having a reusable water bottle that fits in my car cup holder was key. I knew I also needed something I could throw into a bag. I found an insulated stainless steel water bottle with a straw lid in the brightest colour I could find. I covered it in fun stickers that expressed my personality. It fits my lifestyle while I am at home, and I can easily carry it in my bag when traveling.
You may choose to further boost your hydration by adding electrolytes to your water. Electrolyte drinks come in many forms these days. I love the Liquid I.V. sugar-free rainbow sherbert hydration multiplier and how easy it is to pack for travel. If you do a lot of international travel like I do and are unsure of the water quality, bring some water purification tablets. These tablets can be added to water to kill pathogens, like bacteria, that may be present, making the water safe to drink.
4. A Portable Fan To Stay Cool
Folks living with diabetes are more prone to overheating. If you’ve had blood vessel or nerve damage due to diabetes, your sweat glands may have been affected in a way that makes it so you can’t cool down as well as you used to. It’s even harder to stay cool when it’s hot and humid.
This is something I have experienced personally, having recently travelled to two countries near the equator: Indonesia and Colombia. I felt the heat so intensely, and I could not have survived without bringing my own portable fan. The best handheld motorized fan I’ve found is rechargeable and has five speed settings.
High temperatures can also change how your body uses insulin. A portable fan can help keep your body cool enough to properly use insulin.
5. A Pill Case To Keep the Medication Regimen on Track
I have tried many different medications over the years to manage my type 2 diabetes. I know that the medications that work for me may not work for you. Our bodies are all so individual and different. I trust you to have those important conversations with your providers.
I will say that consistency in taking medication is absolutely huge. Before having a daily pill case, I just kept a general, cute, small pill case in my purse. I thought I was good about taking my medications, but I had no visual way of checking that I did since the days weren’t labelled in my case.
For me, getting a pill case with separate compartments by day and time of day made it a lot easier to hold myself accountable. If you travel, I also recommend getting a pill case with compartments that pop out. This way, rather than bringing along a bulky case, you just have to bring the pills you need for the days you’ll be gone.
If you need even more of a nudge to remember to take your medication, there are pill cases with timers that let you know if you have missed a dose.
6. Footwear That Protects the Feet
All parts of your body are important, but when you have diabetes, you have to take extra care of your feet. Diabetic foot ulcers (sores) are believed to impact more than 20% of people who have diabetes. Such injuries can eventually lead to amputation, and diabetes is the leading cause of lower limb amputations unrelated to something traumatic, like an accident.
This was one of the things I was a bit flippant about at the beginning of my diagnosis, but I have learned the value of taking care of your body from head to toe. I was always more into how the shoe looked than the protection it provided. My podiatrist said otherwise and helped me find stable footwear, so I was not as prone to blisters and other foot irritations. Brands she suggested include Hoka, Brooks, Oofos, and New Balance.
Support can also come in the form of socks, as they can help prevent blisters.
If you get blisters, address the wound. Always keep a first aid kit with appropriate wound care with you. I have personally found the most success at using hydrocolloid bandages.
Final Thoughts
Your diabetes toolbox may not look like mine, and that’s OK! The most important thing is to find what works for you. Stay open to new things, but most importantly, stay in tune with your body. I know you can do this!
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