Managing Diabetes: Living Well With Type 2 Diabetes

Finding out you have Type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes can feel overwhelming. But with a plan in place, you can take control. “It’s not a life sentence,” says Nubar Petikyan, PharmD, clinical manager of pharmacy services and head of the Diabetes Education and Management Program at MLK Community Healthcare. “You can live a productive and healthy life with diabetes.”

Your daily choices make a difference

Eat well.?Healthy eating is an important part of managing diabetes. Use the Diabetes Plate Method as a guide:?Divide your plate into 4 equal parts. Now fill:

• One part with lean protein (like chicken or fish)
• One part with carbohydrates (like brown rice or whole-wheat bread)
• Two parts with non-starchy vegetables (such as broccoli, collard greens, spinach or carrots)?

Tip: Add an extra serving of veggies to each meal.

Get active. Regular physical activity is also key to managing diabetes. Aim for 150 minutes of exercise each week. That breaks down to a little more than 20 minutes per day.?

Tip: Take a walk. If you can walk for 20 minutes, great! If not, do what you can. Add a bit more, week by week.

Watch your sugar. Keeping your blood sugar levels in check helps prevent serious complications. It’s important to:

• Check your blood sugar as often as your doctor recommends?
• Take your medications as directed

“If you only take your medication half of the time, it’s only half as effective as it should be,” Dr. Petikyan says. In some cases, missing doses could make you so sick you end up in the emergency room. “Make sure you have enough medication on hand and take it regularly, especially if you are dependent on insulin,” he adds.?

Tip: Make a plan to help you remember your medications by setting alarms or hanging notes.

Ask for help. You don’t have to do it alone. MLK Community Healthcare has a team of experts who can help you live a healthy life with diabetes. If you need advice about nutrition, exercise or medicines, talk to your?doctor or nurse. “We have a lot of resources to help,” Dr. Petikyan says.?

Tip: Do you have questions about managing your diabetes? Make an appointment with your primary care doctor or call your nurse line for help.

Stay positive. Developing healthy habits can improve your health in a big way. In fact, people who make healthy diet and exercise changes can sometimes lower their dose of diabetes medications. Sometimes, people with pre-diabetes can get rid of it entirely. “The body is a remarkable machine. Through diet, exercise and weight loss, you can reverse the course of the disease,” Dr. Petikyan says.?

Tip: Write down your goals. Then write down 3 healthy choices that will help you reach those goals.

MLK Community Healthcare partners with the L.A. Care Community Resource Center in Lynwood, which offers free classes on diabetes, nutrition and more. Check their calendar for upcoming classes.

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