Lower Your Risks, Improve Your Health

Smoking

If you smoke or vape, it is important to quit. Ask your health care team for help. Call 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669) or visit smokefree.gov. Nicotine patches and other medicines may help lower your desire to smoke.

Prevention is Key to Staying Healthy

At each visit with your health care team:

Update your medication list
Take off shoes and socks for a foot check.
Bring your meter or CGM, and glucose logs to discuss your readings.
Check your blood pressure.
Check your weight. If needed, talk about ways to reach a healthy weight.
Talk about what, and when, you eat.
Talk about your sleep habits, or any changes to your sleep.

Discuss any changes in your life, work, or emotions.
Talk about how active you are.
If you smoke or vape, talk about ways to quit.
Discuss all the medicines you take. This includes over-the-counter pills, herbs, vitamins, or supplements.
Ask any questions, and write down the answers.
Be honest about any issues you are having, such as trouble sleeping, paying for medications, or feeling stress.

Regular Health Checks

At least two times a year, be sure to have:

At least one time a year, be sure to have:

Cholesterol check
Complete foot exam
Dilated eye exam
Hearing screening
Update your vaccines, such as the flu shot, COVID, others
Urine and blood test to check for kidney problems

Your diabetes care team may order these tests more frequently to care for you and your conditions.

At least once in your life, get:

At least once in your life, and again after turning 65, get a:

Sick Days

When you are sick, the stress on your body can raise glucose levels. It is important to have a sick day plan. Be prepared to drink more fluids, and check your glucose more often. You should still take your medications.

Before you get sick, decide on an action plan with your health care team. Your plan should include:

When to call your health care/diabetes team
How often to check your glucose
What foods and fluids to take while you are sick
If you should test your urine for ketones
If you need to adjust your insulin or other medicines

Download the sick plan. Fill it out and post it in a location that is easy to find, such as on your refrigerator.

CHAPTERS

Lower Your Risks, Improve Your Health

Smoking

Prevention is Key to Staying Healthy

Regular Health Checks

At least two times a year, be sure to have:

At least one time a year, be sure to have:

At least once in your life, get:

At least once in your life, and again after turning 65, get a:

Sick Days

Diabetes and Your Heart: Close Connections