Diabetes Problem Solving
When your blood sugar gets high or low, it’s time to make decisions about the best way to address the problem. However, your personal circumstances may not always line up with the guidelines or recommendations you find online. To help, try thinking about your blood sugar levels as a problem that needs a solution.
Being sick, when you ate last, how stressed you are and the time of day can all impact your blood sugar. Also, your body changes over time — you get older and you may acquire other health conditions. All of these factors must be taken into consideration when managing your blood sugar levels, because what worked one day may not work the next. That’s why it’s important to know how to approach your diabetes challenges.
The next time your blood sugar spikes or drops, consider these steps as you get a handle on your situation.
- Lean on your team. If a normal solution for your blood sugar problems no longer works, reach out to others. Contact your primary care doctor, endocrinologist or diabetes educator.
- Analyze the circumstances. What’s different? Did you eat something new or eat at a different time of day? Are you stressed? What could have triggered the event? Identifying what caused your blood sugar to get high or low will help you avoid the situation in the future.
- Take notes. Anytime you decide to try a change, record the symptoms, challenges and successes you experienced, along with key details about the steps you took — when and how it happened. Keeping a log of the details can help you and your doctor see what worked well and what didn’t, as well as help identify possible patterns.
- Have an open, positive mind. Sometimes you need to try a new solution. Approaching it with a positive attitude can help you make it through the change.
Always consult your doctor before making a change to your diabetes management plan. By working together, you can find the solution that’s right for you.
To prevent getting overwhelmed by blood sugar calculations every time you eat, keep these tips in mind to simplify mealtime.
- Manage your schedule. Pick the ideal time for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and stick to it to help regulate your blood sugar levels.
- Watch your portion sizes. A serving of meat should be the size of a stack of cards. Also, when looking at your plate, the biggest portion should be vegetables, not a carbohydrate or starch.
- Prep your meals on the weekend. Take time to plan healthy meals throughout the week, then prep the ingredients on Saturday or Sunday. You’ll be more likely to cook at home and less likely to hit the drive-thru.
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