Diabetes Care
Diabetes care becomes the responsibility of a diabetic patient outside 
a hospital or physician's office. A diabetic patient can live a long and active life if they educate themselves about diabetes and take charge of their diabetes care plan. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes complications can be slowed or prevented by keeping blood glucose levels close to those of a person without diabetes. This can be accomplished with timely injections of insulin, proper intake of diabetes pills and regular monitoring of blood glucose.
Diabetes care starts at the doctor's office. The patient needs to 
schedule a general examination each year. The doctor orders blood and urine tests to find out the blood glucose level, hemoglobin level, cholesterol and fat levels, and urine protein level. This check-up should also include regular check up of eyes, kidneys, heart and feet, which are also targets of diabetes. At home, the best method of diabetes care is to check blood glucose levels regularly. A health care professional or diabetic educator can improve the skills to take blood glucose readings by observing the technique used by the diabetic patient. A diabetic patient should check his feet daily and should visit the podiatrist as recommended by the family doctor.
Diabetes care also involves lifestyle adjustments to the ways of cooking and planning meals or snacks. Diabetic smokers should quit smoking because it puts them at higher risk of getting heart disease, stroke and other diseases. It is recommended by the American Diabetes Association to take an aspirin daily to reduce the risk of heart attack and to get treatment to keep blood pressure under 130/80mm Hg. [2]
The value of appropriate diabetes care is increased if a diabetic patient remains stress free. Stress can lead to the production of the hormones which block the effect of insulin thus increasing blood sugar levels. This is a bad scenario for managing diabetic care.
Diabetes care involves a full team of health care professionals including your dentist, family doctor, dietitian, diabetes educator, eye specialist, foot specialist, social worker and nurse. But a diabetic patient has to quarterback these professionals to maximize their diabetes care.
References:
1 American Diabetes Association. Diabetes care. Checking Blood Glucose.
2 Mayo Clinic Staff (2006). Diabetes checkups: Why you need them, how to prepare. Diabetes Care
