Diabetes is a problem the body has with turning the sugar you eat into something your body can use for energy.  It’s something that can be genetic, but sometimes the onset of diabetes is random.  It can happen when you’re young, or when you’re old.  You can have a family history of it or not.  It’s a nondiscriminatory disease, but there are ways you can prevent it from happening to you.

1. Education – Educate yourself as to what diabetes is, and how it is preventable.  Come up with a plan to keep blood sugar levels controlled. Know about proper nutrition, exercise, medications and how to adjust your lifestyle to having diabetes.
2. Nutrition – Develop a nutritional diet that fits your needs, which can help control weight and sugar levels.
3. Exercise – being active will help you in controlling your blood sugar.
4. Medication Management – Learning when and how to take your medicine, inject insulin, and how you will feel when sugar levels are not right is important.
5. Blood Sugar Monitoring – Learn how to use a device to monitor your blood sugar levels, plus learn how food, activity, stress and medications alter your blood sugar.
6. Counseling – Get support from healthcare professionals so that you can discuss your concerns, receive help coping with the disease, and plan for lifestyle changes

The more you know about diabetes, the better prepared you will be to deal with it, whether it is your problem or a friend’s.  The best way you can handle being a diabetic, or help someone you know who is dealing with diabetes is to learn what happens to your body. Know how you can control it, and what you can do to help yourself other than taking the medications your doctor will prescribe. While it is a serious condition, it is one that can be treated and monitored, allowing diabetics to live long, normal, healthy lives.