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Home > About Diabetes > For Indigenous Australians...

10 ways to manage diabetes

High blood glucose levels can lead to complications. These complications affect your eyes, kidneys, feet, blood vessels, nerves and heart.

The following can help you to manage your diabetes and stay healthy.

1. Find out all you can about diabetes.
Diabetes is in your hands: but there are a lot of people to help you with your diabetes. Your Health Worker can help you or point you in the right direction.
Make sure you make and keep appointments with your doctor and other health professionals.

2. Eat healthy foods.
These should be low fat, high fibre and lower in sugar. Include vegetables, fruit, wholegrain breads and cereals. Also eat some low fat dairy products and lean meat. Drink lots of water.

3. Be active every day.
Try to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. Go for a walk, ride a bike, play with the kids. Walk and talk with your friends. You can do three lots of 10 minutes a day if that’s easier.

4. Take your medications as prescribed by your doctor.
These help your body to keep your blood glucose levels (BGL) in target range. Your medications may be either tablets or insulin injections. You might need blood pressure or cholesterol tablets as well.

5. Check your blood glucose level (BGL).
Check them yourself or have your Health Worker check them as often as you can. Make sure you have a NDSS card (it’s free) to get cheaper prices on your test strips.
Target range for BGL’s:
• 4-7 before meals
• Less than 10 two hours after meals
What can change your BGL:
• the food you eat
• activity
• medications
• illness/pain/infection
• stress/worry
• drugs/alcohol

6. Check your feet every day.
You can stop foot problems by looking at your feet, top and bottom and between your toes. Look for any redness, swelling, cuts, bites or pus. If you can’t see or reach your feet, ask someone else to check or use a mirror. Shake your shoes out before putting them on and don’t go barefoot.
Tell your Health Worker if you have problems with your feet.

7. If you smoke: STOP.
Smoking makes the complications of diabetes worse.

8. Have regular blood tests.
Your doctor, educator or Health Worker may tell you about tests for your diabetes.

Test name	What it checks	How often is it done?
HbA1c (blood test)	Average of your BGL	Every 3-6 months
Cholesterol (blood test)	Blood fat levels	At least once a year
Microalbumin (urine test)	Early test for kidney problems	At least once a year

9. Have your blood pressure checked.
Many people with diabetes have blood pressure problems. This can be checked when you see your Health Worker, educator or doctor. Blood pressure should be less than 130/80.

10. Have your eyes checked.
You should have a special eye test when you first find out about your diabetes. An optometrist can do this test. You should have this test done at least every 2 years and more often if there are problems in the eye.

Who you might need to see	What they can help you with
Doctor	Check your health, order tests, give you scripts
Dietitian	Help you to learn about good tucker
Diabetes Educator	Teach you about diabetes, blood testing, your tablets, teach you insulin and other things
Podiatrist	Check out your feet and show you how to look after them
Optometrist or Ophthalmologist	Check your eyes
Specialists	If you are having troubles with your diabetes or need extra help for your kidneys, eyes, heart, feet or blood pressure

All of these things can help you to live well with diabetes.
For more information or to speak to a diabetes educator, dietitian or exercise physiologist call the Diabetes Australia Customer Care Line on 1300 136 588.