A vital part of managing life with diabetes is checking blood glucose levels regularly. Since high glucose levels may not cause any diabetic symptoms, most diabetics use blood glucose monitors for this task. A doctor will determine your target range, and show you how to properly use a monitor.

As a part of diabetic living, family members should know how to use the monitor, as well as what to do when blood glucose falls out of the target range. Depending on how far out of range these levels are, family members may need to provide diabetic food or administer insulin to their diabetic loved one.

Life with Diabetes: Administering Insulin

Many diabetics need insulin, usually administered in injection form. Diabetic living requires that diabetics and family members alike are able to safely administer insulin using these steps:

1. Wash your hands.
2. Load the insulin into the needle.
3. Squeeze the injection site between your thumb and forefinger, to pull the fat away from the underlying muscle.
4. Gently insert the needle at a 90-degree angle, and push the plunger to inject the insulin.
5. When all of the insulin has been injected, remove the needle.
6. Press the injection site after removing the needle to prevent leakage.

Diabetic Living: Diet

A healthy diet is another important part of diabetic living. No special diabetic food is needed; a diabetic diet includes a balance of carbohydrates, protein and fat, as recommended by a nutritionist or dietician. To keep blood glucose levels within a healthy range, diabetics shouldn't skip meals and should try to eat at the same times every day.

Family members can help by keeping healthy diabetic food handy, and preparing healthy, balanced meals at regular mealtimes.

Diabetic Symptoms: Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia

Diabetics and anyone caring for a diabetic should be familiar with the following conditions:

• Hyperglycemia: Results when a person's blood glucose levels are too high (i.e. above the target range) because he doesn't have enough insulin in his body. The best way to prevent hyperglycemia is to regularly check blood sugar levels and administer insulin when they exceed the target range.
• Hypoglycemia: Occurs when blood glucose levels fall below the target range. Causes of hypoglycemia include eating late, not eating enough food, too much exercise or too much insulin.

When a diabetic begins to suffer from hypoglycemia, family members can help by getting the diabetic sugary food to eat to increase glucose levels in his blood. Good options are hard candy, orange juice and soda.

Life with Diabetes: Exercise

Exercise is an important part of life with diabetes, as it helps diabetics manage blood sugar levels and maintain a healthy weight. Since exercise lowers blood sugar levels, however, doctors recommend that diabetic living involve a slow-starting exercise plan to determine how blood glucose levels will respond. Diabetics and family members should keep the following items handy during exercise:

• Insulin
• Medical ID bracelet
• Snacks
• Water.

Resources

American Diabetes Association. (n.d.). Living with diabetes. Retrieved June 10, 2010 from http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/.

Family Doctor. (2009). Living with diabetes: The basics. Retrieved June 14, 2010, from http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/diabetes/living/049.html.