Living with diabetes is no easy task, but there are things people can do to live with the disease and at the same time improve the quality of their lives.
Join the Pasadena Senior Center at 10 a.m. Thursday, February 4, at 10 a.m., to learn about nine things you can do to take care of yourself while living with diabetes.
Presented by Huntington Hospital Community Outreach Nurse Kathy Eastwood, the webinar will emphasize that as a diabetic, the major responsibility for your care rests with you and that keeping diabetes under control will help prevent heart, nerve, and foot problems.
Web MD lists some of the ways to avoid complications associated with diabetes. These include losing weight, checking blood sugar levels at least twice a day, getting A1C tests for average blood sugar levels for the past two to three months, tracking carbohydrates, and controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.
They also include regular exercise, getting enough sleep, managing stress, and seeing a doctor often.
Getting a complete checkup at least once a year is also advised. At your annual physical, make sure you get a dilated eye exam, blood pressure check, foot exam, and screenings for other complications such as kidney damage, nerve damage, and heart disease.
“Having diabetes doesn’t seal your fate, but it does need to be managed so you can live a full, energetic life with little to no complications,” writes Jill Weisenberger, a registered dietitian and author of “Diabetes Weight Loss Week by Week,” in EverydayHealth.com.
Weisenberger also stresses that keeping a food journal, or writing down what you eat, is essential in controlling diabetes. With a food journal, it becomes easier to make sure you’re eating the right balance of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, fruits, and veggies for your diabetes management plan.
“Food records work,” Weisenberger says. “It’s not enough to record everything you ate at the end of the day. It’s best to update it throughout your day, so the journal can influence your choices as you go.”
To sign up for Thursday’s webinar, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org/lectures-events/online-events/3416-live-your-life-with-diabetes and click the Register Online button.
For more information, call (626) 685-6732 or email carmenm@pasadenaseniorcenter.org.
