Why is it important to treat diabetes?

While diabetes is a serious condition there are a lot of things you can do to manage your diabetes and ensure you live an active, healthy life.

Managing your diabetes means keeping your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the desired range. Too much glucose (hyperglycaemia) or too little glucose (hypoglycaemia) means you will feel unwell and will lead to more health problems later in life. Managing your diabetes is a three way balancing act.

You can best manage your diabetes if:

• You take diabetes medicines as directed
• You follow your meal plan. Eating too much or not enough food without adjusting diabetes medicines will throw things out
• You get regular exercise
• Check your blood glucose levels regularly

Out of range blood glucose levels can lead to short-term problems like hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, or diabetic ketoacidosis. In the long run, not managing diabetes effectively can also damage the vessels that supply blood to important organs, like the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves. This means that heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, vision problems, and nerve problems can happen to people with diabetes.