Easy tips on managing diabetes-related problems

If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, you may need to make some fundamental changes to your lifestyle. These tips will set you on the right track for dealing with this condition in your daily life.

There are two forms of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 2 is the more prevalent form of diabetes and is responsible for about 90 percent of cases. As opposed to Type 1 diabetes, which is usually diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, Type 2 diabetes generally afflicts adults; hence, it is also referred to as adult-onset diabetes. Type 2 diabetes develops gradually and usually affects people over the age of 40 who tend to be obese.

Being diagnosed with diabetes means making some changes. The key four you will need to focus on are: taking your medication on time and in the right amounts; regularly testing your blood; eating more healthfully; and exercising more. These are the foundations of diabetes management.

Your doctor will also advise you to quit smoking and to avoid or to strictly limit drinking sugar-sweetened beverages.

Closely controlling blood sugar should be your top priority. Doing so can reduce your risks for nerve damage or neuropathy by as much as 60 percent. This is yet another reason to eat better, exercise more, and take your medicines as prescribed.

Once neuropathy develops, treatments vary depending on how the nerve damage is affecting your body. As with most diabetes complications, the sooner you pick up on nerve damage, the more you can do to keep it from escalating. Don't dismiss sensations or difficulties that disappear: In many cases, symptoms come and go or swing from mild to severe. Tell your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:

• Tingling, numbness, burning, or prickly pain in your arms, legs, hands, or feet. Stay alert: The sensations can be very subtle at first. Try to be especially aware of unusual sensations in the feet, which are often affected first, or at night, when symptoms are usually worse.
• Sensitivity to touch — even the light brushing of your sheets against you when you're in bed.
• Leg cramps that may come and go, especially at night.
• Difficulty sensing the position of your feet or toes, or a sense that you can't keep your balance.
• Calluses or sores on your feet.

You can manage diabetes through diet, exercise, adherence to a medication regime and regular blood testing. With strict care, you’ll be able to keep on top of this condition and life a full life.