15 Golden Rules for Diabetic Care
For diabetic patients to effectively manage their condition, in addition to adhering to treatment, proper daily care can be twice as effective. Recently, the UK's Diabetes Healthcare Association launched an initiative called "15 Points for Diabetes Care," aiming to inform all diabetics—whether they have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes—that they should ensure these 15 basic care items are completed.
1. Regularly monitor your blood glucose, especially the HbA1c test, which assesses your overall blood sugar control and helps your doctor set a reasonable blood sugar target for you.
2. Measure and record your blood pressure at least once a year, and set a personal blood pressure control target. 3. Have your cholesterol tested once a year, and also set a suitable and achievable target value for yourself. 4. Get an eye exam once a year. An ophthalmologist can use a special instrument to take a photograph of each eye to look for signs of damage on the retina.
5. Annually check the skin, circulation, and nerve condition of your legs and feet to promptly detect any foot diseases or to understand the progression of any existing conditions. 6. Two kidney checks are mandatory each year: a urine test for protein, as it is a sign of many kidney diseases, and a blood test to measure kidney function. 7. Regularly weigh yourself and measure your waist circumference to determine if weight loss is necessary. 8. Help diabetic smokers quit. Diabetics are already at a much higher risk of heart disease and stroke, and smoking will further increase this risk. 9. It is essential to develop a personalized care plan that suits you. Everyone's plan should be the result of discussions with their doctor. Patients have the right to express their needs and set their own goals. 10. Attend diabetes education courses to learn about the disease.
11. If you are a minor, you should receive specialized pediatric care. 12. Whether you are hospitalized for diabetes or other reasons, you should receive professional diabetes care to ensure high-quality, specialized treatment. 13. If you are planning a pregnancy, you need guidance from a specialist doctor from pre-conception through post-delivery, because pregnancy means you need to monitor your health indicators more strictly and frequently. 14. Diabetes affects the entire body, so you should see specialists such as ophthalmologists and podiatrists for your treatment. 15. Seek emotional and psychological support. When living with diabetes, you should have the opportunity to confide in professionals about your problems and concerns.