Diabetes management is more than keeping your blood glucose levels as close to normal as is safely possible. You must also control your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. To achieve this you must take responsibility for the day to day management of your condition.

For type 1 diabetes suffered, the body produces insufficient insulin to regulate blood glucose levels without external support. Having a healthy diet, an active lifestyle and taking insulin are the basic ways type 1 diabetes is managed today. The amount of insulin has to be balanced with food intake and daily activities. This requires the sufferer to closely monitor their blood glucose levels.

For type 2 diabetes sufferers, the body produces enough insulin, but is resistant to it. The insulin that is produced is not effective in regulating blood glucose levels. Type 2 diabetes has been described as a symptom of a poor life style, in particular having a poor diet, being overweight and inactive.

Type 2 diabetes management requires the sufferer to reduce their weight to a level that is normal for some one of their height and gender, adopting a healthy diet and becoming more active. They may also need to take insulin or other medication to control their blood glucose levels until their resistance to insulin has been sufficiently reduced so that they no longer need this support.

Adult diabetics are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. As many as two out of three of diabetics die from heart disease or stroke. Other complications of diabetes include kidney disease and blindness. Diabetes management is about more than controlling your blood glucose levels; it is also important to manage your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The way to do that is to have a healthy diet, an active life style and not being over weight. In this way, diabetics can reduce their risk of developing cardiovascular disease or of having a stroke.

Diabetics must take responsibility for the management of their condition from day to day. Keeping blood glucose levels as near to normal as possible is important, but controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels are also important parts of diabetes management.