Although diabetes is a disease not to be taken lightly, living with it is not the end either; one can still learn how to live a full, active, and wonderful life. It all comes down to knowing how to take care of yourself. And you can do that by establishing a routine that includes healthy lifestyle practices. Alternatively, you may also be prescribed insulin to keep your diabetes in check, especially if your body is unable to produce the hormone or use it effectively.

This sentiment is also shared by The American Diabetes Association, who are of the notion that the lives of patients do change for the better after insulin therapy, as is evident through an increase in their energy levels, better flexibility in their daily schedules and a more positive outlook on life.

Eat healthily. Managing your blood sugar is vital to living well with diabetes, but ensuring you get your daily dose of insulin won’t be enough; minding what you eat is key to blood sugar control. Planning your meals ahead of time is an excellent way to prepare and control the food that you eat.

Here are some general tips to keep in mind:

Limit the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages [1]
Increase your fresh fruit and green leafy vegetable consumption (at least three servings everyday) [1]
Choose nuts, a piece of fresh fruit, or unsweetened yogurt for a snack [1]
Limit alcohol consumption to just two standard drinks a day [1]
Choose lean cuts of white meat, poultry, or seafood instead of red or processed meat
Avoid white bread, noodles, or rice and choose whole-grain bread, pasta, and brown rice [1]
Choose unsaturated fats (olive oil, canola oil, corn oil, or sunflower oil) instead of saturated fats (butter, ghee, animal fat, coconut oil, or palm oil) [1]

You also have to be aware of how much you eat. Another tip to be mindful of how much you eat is the plate method. It’s a simple, visual method to determine that you are eating enough vegetables and just the right amount of lean protein and carbohydrates.

Take an average-sized plate and fill half of it with vegetables, quarter of it with lean protein, and the other quarter with whole, healthy carbohydrates [2].

Get Active. Losing weight makes it easier for your body to keep your blood sugar level down, especially if you’re overweight [3]. Get in some exercise – any exercise that gets your heart rate pumping — for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Explore exercise types that work for you, whether it’s brisk walking, jogging, or swimming. Being active helps the body use insulin better, look after your blood pressure, and improve your cholesterol levels, among others [4].

Take Your Insulin Accordingly. More often than not, your healthcare provider will recommend that you take insulin to help manage diabetes. Insulin is a naturally-occurring hormone secreted by the pancreas that helps regulate blood sugar levels [5]. You may be prescribed the following: a mealtime (bolus) insulin, a basal insulin or a 2-in-1 insulin, with the possibility of formulation prescription changing over time. A mealtime insulin (also known as a bolus insulin) is taken at mealtimes to regulate blood glucose levels after a meal. It is usually taken before meals. A basal insulin, on the other hand, is an insulin that is taken to ensure that blood glucose levels remain constant when an individual is fasting. A basal insulin is usually taken once or twice a day, depending on the type of insulin prescribed to ensure this process takes place. Alternatively, a 2-in-1 insulin combines the use of both bolus and basal insulins in a single pen for several important reasons.

Primarily, it enables individuals to match how their bodies would release insulin normally. It can also help individuals who live busy lifestyles to minimise the frequency of their insulin injections and prevent blood glucose spikes whilst having flexible meal times. At the same time, current insulins have been designed to resemble a pen instead of a medical toolkit, and come with needles which are shorter and finer, which can help you to suppress the fear and anxiety triggered by the thought of painful injections.

At first glance, it seems challenging to deal with diabetes and its side effects. But as long as you take care of yourself by minding what you eat, choosing to be active, and seeking out the help of your health care provider, you can live a long and fulfilling life even with diabetes.

The use of insulin in the effective management of diabetes can also have a positive effect on a patient’s mood by boosting their energy levels, and enhancing their self-confidence.

Coupled with the fact that technological advances have enabled significant improvements in the administration of insulin, which include disposable pens, pens that are stable in room temperature over a period of time (depending on the type of pen used) and insulin needles that are shorter or thinner, it is no wonder that insulin therapy is being prescribed as the recommended treatment option for effective diabetes management. Speak to your doctor about how you can benefit from the use of a 2-in-1, basal or mealtime insulin today.

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