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  Diabetes  is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Most of the food you eat is broken down into sugar (also called glucose) and released into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin. Insulin acts like a key to letting the blood sugar into your body’s cells for use as energy. If you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it makes as well as it should.  There isn’t a cure yet for diabetes, but losing weight, eating healthy food, and being active can really help. Taking medicine as needed, and keeping health care appointments can also reduce the impact of diabetes on your life. Types of Diabetes There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes (diabetes while pregnant). Type 1 Diabetes Type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction (the body attacks itself by mistake) that stops your b

  Diabetes management: How lifestyle and daily routine affect blood sugar Diabetes management requires awareness. Know what makes your blood sugar level rise and fall — and how to control these day-to-day factors. Keeping your blood sugar levels within the range recommended by your doctor can be challenging. That's because many things make your blood sugar levels change, sometimes unexpectedly. Following are some factors that can affect your blood sugar levels. These are some of the following ways you can manage diabetes and what to do in such situations: Food Illness Stress Medication Exercise

  Healthy eating is a cornerstone of healthy living — with or without diabetes. But if you have diabetes, you need to know how foods affect your blood sugar levels. It's not only the type of food you eat, but also how much you eat and the combinations of food types you eat. What to do: Learn about carbohydrate counting and portion sizes.  A key to many diabetes management plans is learning how to count carbohydrates. Carbohydrates often have the biggest impact on your blood sugar levels. For people taking mealtime insulin, it's important to know the amount of carbohydrates in your food, so you get the proper insulin dose. Make every meal well balanced.  As much as possible, plan for every meal to have a good mix of starches, fruits and vegetables, proteins, and fats. Pay attention to the types of carbohydrates you choose. Coordinate your meals and medications.  Too little food in proportion to your diabetes medications — especially insulin — may result in dangerously low blood

  When you're sick, your body produces stress-related hormones that help your body fight the illness, but they also can raise your blood sugar level. Changes in your appetite and normal activity also may complicate diabetes management. What to do: Plan ahead.  Work with your health care team to create a sick-day plan. Include instructions on what medications to take, how often to measure your blood sugar and urine ketone levels, how to adjust your medication dosages, and when to call your doctor. Continue to take your diabetes medication.  However, if you're unable to eat because of nausea or vomiting, contact your doctor. In these situations, you may need to adjust your insulin dose or temporarily reduce or withhold short-acting insulin or diabetes medication because of a risk of hypoglycemia. However, do not stop your long-acting insulin.  Stick to your diabetes meal plan.  If you can, eating, as usual, will help you control your blood sugar levels. Keep a supply of foods tha

  If you're stressed, the hormones your body produces in response to prolonged stress may cause a rise in your blood sugar level. Additionally, it may be harder to closely follow your usual diabetes management routine if you're under a lot of extra pressure. What to do: Look for patterns.  Log your stress level on a scale of 1 to 10 each time you log your blood sugar level. A pattern may soon emerge. Take control.  Once you know how stress affects your blood sugar level, fight back. Learn relaxation techniques, prioritize your tasks and set limits. Whenever possible, avoid common stressors. Exercise can often help relieve stress and lower your blood sugar level. Get help.  Learn new strategies for coping with stress. You may find that working with a psychologist or clinical social worker can help you identify stressors, solve stressful problems or learn new coping skills.

  Insulin and other diabetes medications are designed to lower your blood sugar levels when diet and exercise alone aren't sufficient for managing diabetes. But the effectiveness of these medications depends on the timing and size of the dose. What to do: Store insulin properly.  Insulin that's improperly stored or past its expiration date may not be effective. Insulin is especially sensitive to extremes in temperature.    Report problems to your doctor.  If your diabetes medications cause your blood sugar level to drop too low or if it's consistently too high, the dosage or timing may need to be adjusted. Be cautious with new medications.  If you're considering an over-the-counter medication or your doctor prescribes a new drug to treat another condition — such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol — ask your doctor or pharmacist if the medication may affect your blood sugar levels.

  Physical activity is another important part of your diabetes management plan. When you exercise, your muscles use sugar (glucose) for energy. Regular physical activity also helps your body use insulin more efficiently. These factors work together to lower your blood sugar level. The more strenuous your workout, the longer the effect lasts. But even light activities — such as housework, gardening or being on your feet for extended periods — can improve your blood sugar.   What to do: Talk to your doctor about an exercise plan.  Ask your doctor about what type of exercise is appropriate for you. In general, most adults should get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity. Aim for about 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a day on most days of the week. Keep an exercise schedule.  Talk to your doctor about the best time of day for you to exercise so that your workout routine is coordinated with your meal and medication schedules. Know your numbers.  Talk to your