Step 5: Your management program

Return to Index Step 1: Taking Charge Step 2: What is Diabetes?Step 3: Symptoms of Diabetes Step 4: Diagnosing Diabetes Step 5: Your Management Program Step 6: Use Insulin Every Day Step 7: Follow a Meal Plan Step 8: Monitor Blood Glucose Step 9: Exercise is Important!Step 10: Recognize Medical Emergencies Step 11: Long-Term Complications Step 12: Maintain Regular Check-ups Step 13: The Healthcare Team Key Points Glossary

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The goal of diabetes treatment is to maintain blood glucose at normal or near normal levels. This helps prevent long-term complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, and eye problems.

In addition, medical emergencies (Step 10) can occur if blood glucose gets too high or too low. But when you have a solid management plan in place and you are disciplined about following it, you can avoid serious situations.

You and your doctor should work together to determine a specific daily management program. Here are the basic components:

Insulin
Meal plan
Blood glucose monitoring
Exercise

We will go into each of these components in the next few steps.

Review Date: 6/24/2011
Reviewed By: Nancy J. Rennert, MD, FACE, FACP, Chief of Endocrinology & Diabetes, Norwalk Hospital, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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