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YOU’VE JUST LEARNED that you’re one of the more than 24 million people in the United States who have diabetes. Now what?

Knowledge is empowering. Education about diabetes can help you manage your blood glucose and prevent long-term complications.

WHAT NOW?

So, now that diabetes has been diag-nosed, it’s time to look forward. Ask yourself: What can I do now to control this disease?

According to the American Diabetes Association, you should:

Create a meal plan—and stick to it.

Your doctor or a dietitian will help you

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When the diagnosis is diabetes

Exercise most days of the week. Physi-cal activity helps keep your blood sugar and blood pressure under control—and it even helps insulin work better. It’s also a great way to relieve stress. Try to work up to at least 30 minutes of aerobic activ-ity a day, fve days a week. And aim to do some strength training and stretching too. Work with your doctor to create an exercise plan that suits you.

Know your blood glucose level. Your doctor will help you determine your target glucose level and how often you should check your blood. Many people

test several times a day. Record the results to share with your doctor. You should also have an A1C test at least twice

a year. It tests average blood glucose lev-els for the last three months.

YOU ARE IN CHARGE!

Managing blood sugar isn’t always easy— but it’s worth it. Over time, a high blood glucose level can damage nerves and blood vessels.

“Poor control of diabetes can lead to many complications, including kid-ney failure, blindness, heart disease and stroke,” said Basil Burney, MD, endocri-nologist with the Jackson Clinic. “How-ever, diabetes is very controllable, and lots of advances have been made in the past few years with regards to insulin and noninsulin diabetes medications.” Dr. Burney also noted that the most important factor that helps in controlling diabetes is a patient’s understanding and the acceptance of the disease. It requires some lifestyle modifcations, a strict diet,

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DIABETES EDUCATION CLASSES CAN HELP YOU LIVE WELL WITH YOUR CONDITION. TO SIGN UP FOR A CLASS, CALL 334-293-8225 .

WELLNESS

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