Chronic Care

3 steps to take after a diabetes diagnosis  

Man reading monitor

Taking these first steps after a diagnosis can help you take back control of your health.   

Diabetes is not a “set it and forget it” condition. As life changes, you may have to change how you handle your diabetes.        

That calls for the right mix of diet, healthy habits, and medications. The key to staying on top of it all: Learn as much as you can and find ways to stay motivated. Here are some tips to get started.    

Get comfortable with blood sugar testing. 

With diabetes, you’ll want to keep your blood sugar within a certain range. Your doctor will talk to you about a goal range. They will also show you how to test your blood sugar.     

Most blood sugar tests use a small needle to poke your finger. You squeeze a tiny drop of blood onto a testing strip. The strip is inserted into a machine called a glucometer. It gives you an instant reading of your blood sugar.     

Testing is recommended at these times of day:     

  • When you first wake up   
  • Before a meal
  • 2 hours after a meal   
  • At bedtime

Your doctor may ask you to track a few things over time:   

  • Your blood sugar numbers
  • What you eat
  • When you exercise    

Having this info can make it easier to spot trends and changes. If something looks off, talk to your provider. They can change your care plan if needed.     

In some cases, your doctor may suggest wearing a small device called a continuous glucose monitor. To use it, your doctor places a small sensor under your skin. It collects real-time readings 24 hours a day. 

Woman taking her blood pressure in a kitchen

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Build your diabetes care team.  

It can feel like there’s a lot to manage with diabetes. But remember: You won’t be doing it alone. Your care team can offer support. They can also share the education you need to take care of yourself. Your care team might include:    

  • An endocrinologist or diabetes specialist: This person can help you track your blood sugar levels. They can explain how stress or sickness might affect your diabetes. 
  • A foot doctor or podiatrist: If your blood sugar stays high over a long period, it can lower blood flow to your feet and cause damage. A foot doctor can do a diabetic foot exam. They look for issues such as nerve damage, infection, or injury.    
  • An eye doctor or ophthalmologist: Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage your eyes. Eye doctors are trained to catch small changes in your eye health early. This can help fend off diabetes-related vision loss.    
  • A pharmacist: They can talk with you about your medications. For example, they can answer questions about side effects. They can also tell you about possible interactions with other drugs or supplements.     
  • A mental health professional: People with diabetes are more likely to have depression than those who don’t. That’s why it’s so important to have someone you can turn to for support. That might be a:    
    • Clinical social worker   
    • Therapist   
    • Counselor 
    • Psychologist  
    • You can also ask your doctor if they can suggest free support groups.     

If you can, build a care team within a single hospital system or health system. That makes it easier for your care team members to work together.       

You can always ask your doctor for a referral. But they might not know who’s taking new patients. Another helpful tool: Wellframe. This digital health management app is included in your plan. You can use it to search for in-network specialists or to send a secure message to your care manager.    

Start healthy habits.   

A lot of things can affect your diabetes. That includes stress, smoking, medications, and more. The good news: Making healthy lifestyle tweaks over time can help you get control of your health. Here are some good goals to aim for.    

  • Eat well. Your care team will give you a meal plan. What you eat has a direct impact on your blood sugar levels.     
  • Move more. Exercise can lower your blood sugar quickly. It also helps keep your levels steady. Pick an activity you enjoy. That way it’s easier to stick with it. The goal: Work up to 150 minutes of activity each week. Start at your current fitness level where you feel comfortable. Every minute of movement does your body good.    
  • Mind your meds. Some people can manage their diabetes with diet and exercise. Others need medication to keep their diabetes in check. If your doctor prescribes pills or injections, make sure you understand exactly how and when to take them. Need help remembering? Your Wellframe app has a reminder tool to make this easier.    
  • Deal with stress. When you’re stressed, you may have a harder time sticking to your healthy habits. Stress can raise blood sugar levels. Of course, no one can be stress-free. But you can find ways to cope better when stress hits.  Do you like yoga, talking to a therapist, or daily walks? If it’s healthy and it works for you, go for it.    

Remember: There’s a lot you can do to take control of your health. But if you think something you’re doing isn’t working, or you have concerns, talk to your care team. They are there to help.  

Sources

  1. “Type 2 Diabetes.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/about/about-type-2-diabetes.html  
  2. “Manage Blood Sugar.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/treatment   
  3. “Find a Diabetes Education Program in Your Area.” American Diabetes Association. https://diabetes.org/tools-support/diabetes-education-program    
  4. Huang DY, Wilkins CJ, Evans DR, et al. “The Diabetic Foot: The Importance of Coordinated Care.” Seminars in Interventional Radiology. 2014; vol. 31, no. 4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4232430/ 
  5. Wondmkun YT. “Obesity, Insulin Resistance, and Type 2 Diabetes: Associations and Therapeutic Implications.” Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy. 2020; vol 13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7553667 
  6. “Living Healthy with Diabetes.” American Heart Association. Reviewed April 4, 2024. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/diabetes/prevention--treatment-of-diabetes/living-healthy-with-diabetes   
  7. “Smoking and Diabetes.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed October 13, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/diabetes.html   
  8. “Diabetes and Mental Health.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/living-with/mental-health.html   
  9. “Statistics about Diabetes.” American Diabetes Association. https://www.diabetes.org/resources/statistics/statistics-about-diabetes  
  10. “Continuous Glucose Monitoring.” Cleveland Clinic. Reviewed May 24, 2024. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/11444-glucose-continuous-glucose-monitoring