Tools to Manage Your Diabetes and Improve Self Care

Last Updated on March 24, 2022 by Ellen Christian

So, if you’re looking for a few free tools to manage your diabetes, keep reading for a few that my husband uses or has used. My husband was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes a little more than ten years ago. At the time, it was a huge shock to him because he had never been focused on his health.

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Tools to Manage Your Diabetes and Improve Self Care

Tools to Manage Your Diabetes

Type 2 or Adult Onset Diabetes is generally related to lifestyle choices rather than Type I which is something that is often inherited and involves your immune system. Type 2 diabetes can sometimes be managed through lifestyle changes. 

You will find the best tools to manage your diabetes through your doctor’s office. Ours has free classes that involve how to eat healthier, how to track your blood sugar and the basics of understanding what Type 2 Diabetes is. You should call your doctor’s office and see what types of resources are available in your area.

Tools to Manage Your Diabetes and Improve Self Care

How can Type 2 diabetes be managed?

Of course, the first thing to do is to speak to your doctor and get their recommendations for managing your diabetes. It’s very important that you have regular appointments so they can be sure that your diabetes is under control. Check out these tips for managing diabetes.

You can sometimes manage your diabetes by making lifestyle changes. A few changes you might want to look into include eating a healthier diet that is lower in sugar and carbohydrates, getting more exercise, and monitoring your blood sugar levels.

sugar bowl and diabetes meter

What are the best apps for diabetes

In today’s connected world, just about everyone has apps on their phone or tablet. There are quite a few apps that can help you monitor your diabetes. Here are just a few tools to manage your diabetes you might want to investigate.

  • Fooducate – This app will help you understand what you’re eating including added sugar content and hidden ingredients. Free for iPhone and Android.
  • MySugr – You can get this Android or iPhone app for free and sync it to your blood glucose monitor. You can set reminders and generate a variety of reports to see how you’re doing.
  • BeatDiabetes – If you’re new to diabetes, this is a great app to investigate. There are lots of helpful articles on diabetes that range from traditional medicine to Ayurvedic suggestions.
  • Diabetic Diet – This free app is only available for Android. It helps you understand healthy eating and losing weight for diabetes management.

diabetes testing machine

Glucose meter

My husband was initially resistant to testing his blood sugar every day because he doesn’t like needles. But, it’s an important tool to manage your diabetes. Speak to your doctor about which brand is best for you. You can often get the glucose meter for free. And, your health insurance should help to pay for the diabetes test strips and lancets you’ll need. Here are a few tips for buying diabetes test kit supplies.

mean wearing an activity tracker

Tools to manage your diabetes and movement

After changing your diet, getting more exercise is one of the most important things you can do to control your diabetes. There are a lot of apps you can put on your smartphone that will help you track your steps take. But, I prefer to use my FitBit because I don’t always have my phone in hand while I’m walking. 

Find a support group

Being diagnosed with a health condition and learning to manage it can be difficult and frustrating. So, you can get support from others that are going through the same thing. dLife is a great place to start if you’re looking for a diabetic support group or tools to manage your diabetes.

man having his vision checked

Diabetes is holistic

Finally, remember that managing your diabetes involves more than watching your blood sugar. You should be monitoring your feet and skin for any cuts or changes. It’s important to have your vision checked regularly. And, remember that there is a connection between diabetes and oral care. Try to find tools to manage your diabetes that are more than just watching your blood sugar.

Tools to Manage Your Diabetes and Improve Self Care

If you’re trying to help someone who has diabetes but you don’t currently have it yourself. Why not take this free test to learn how to know your risk for Type 2 diabetes. Or, these diabetes caregiver tips might be helpful if you’re involved in their care.

So, there are a lot of diabetes tools for patients and their caregivers. I hope that I’ve given you a place to start. But, you should work with your primary care doctor to find out what tools to manage your diabetes they recommend and what other tools they offer.

Why not check out these self-care tips for a few more ideas.

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