Learning to Manage Diabetes

Many of the residents of Plantation South Duluth (www.plantationsouth-duluth.com), a senior living residential community in Duluth, are learning to manage diabetes with the help of the executive staff.

Gwinnett County has over 20,000 residents struggling to manage diabetes, more than any other county in the state. This, coupled with the rapid growth of the disease, makes it important that both seniors and community members are able to find guidance in dealing with diabetes. 

According to the Georgia Department of Community Health, the prevalence of diabetes in Georgia is over 30 percent higher than the national average. The same research found that the incidence of diabetes in Georgia has grown over 143 percent in the past 10 years, making it the seventh leading cause of death in the state.

With the prevalence of the disease on the rise, managing diabetes must be a priority for local residents. If you are learning to live with the disease, consider doing the following:

• Obtain and follow a diabetes meal plan from your health practitioner. This should involve eating foods with little salt or fat, eating a hearty amount of fiber and keeping meat and poultry portions below three ounces.
• Get routine care a minimum of two times a year to address any problems.
• Monitor your blood glucose level by testing it at least once a day.
• Exercise for 45-60 minutes a minimum of five days a week. Everything from a quick walk to an exercise class will benefit you.
• Find ways to manage your stress and utilize mental health resources. Stress often contributes to a higher blood glucose level so finding ways to de-stress, like engaging in exercise or pet therapy, is particularly important for individuals with diabetes.

Regular consultation with health professionals and careful monitoring of diet and exercise regimens are examples of simple lifestyle changes that make managing diabetes possible.