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: 5/10/2007
Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, MD, Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Biology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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