Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, what, when and how much you eat all affect your blood glucose. Blood glucose is the main sugar found in the blood and the body's main source of energy.

If you have diabetes (or impaired glucose tolerance), your blood glucose can go too high if you eat too much. If your blood glucose goes too high, you can get sick.

Your blood glucose can also go too high or drop too low if you don't take the right amount of diabetes medicine.

If your blood glucose stays high too much of the time, you can get heart, eye, foot, kidney and other problems. You can also have problems if your blood glucose gets too low, a condiction called hypoglycemia.

Keeping your blood glucose at a healthy level will prevent or slow down diabetes problems. Ask your doctor or diabetes teacher what a healthy blood glucose level is for you.

For most people, target blood glucose levels are

Before meals: 90 to 130
One to two hours after the start of a meal: less than 180

Talk with your health care provider about your blood glucose target levels, and ask your doctor how often you should check your blood glucose. The results from your blood glucose checks will tell you if your diabetes care plan is working. Also ask your doctor for an A1C test at least twice a year. Your A1C number gives your average blood glucose for the past three months.

To keep your blood glucose at a healthy level:

Eat about the same amount of food each day.
Eat your meals and snacks at about the same times each day.
Do not skip meals or snacks.
Take your medicines at the same times each day.
Exercise at about the same times each day.

Your blood glucose goes up after you eat. If you eat a big lunch one day and a small lunch the next day, your blood glucose levels will change too much.

Keep your blood glucose at a healthy level by eating about the same amount of carbohydrate foods at about the same times each day. Carbohydrate foods provide glucose for energy. Starches, fruits, milk, starchy vegetables such as corn, and sweets are all carbohydrate foods.

Exercise

What you eat and when also depends on how much you exercise. Exercise is an important part of staying healthy and controlling your blood glucose. Physical activity should be safe and enjoyable, so talk with your doctor about what types of exercise are right for you. Whatever kind of exercise you do, here are some special things that people with diabetes need to remember:

Take care of your feet. Make sure your shoes fit properly and your socks stay clean and dry. Check your feet for redness or sores after exercising. Call your doctor if you have sores that do not heal.
Drink about two cups of water before you exercise, about every 20 minutes during exercise, and after you finish, even if you don't feel thirsty.
Warm up and cool down for five to 10 minutes before and after exercising. For example, walk slowly at first, then walk faster. Finish up by walking slowly again.
Test your blood glucose before and after exercising. Do not exercise if your fasting blood glucose level is above 300. Eat a small snack if your blood glucose is below 100.
Know the signs of low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) and how to treat it.

Hypoglycemia

You should know the signs of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, such as feeling weak or dizzy, sweating more, noticing sudden changes in your heartbeat, or feeling hungry. If you experience these symptoms, stop exercising and test your blood glucose. If it is 70 or less, eat one of the following right away:

Two or three glucose tablets
1/2 cup (4 ounces) of any fruit juice
1/2 cup (4 ounces) of a regular (not diet) soft drink
1 cup (8 ounces) of milk
Five or six pieces of hard candy
1 or 2 teaspoons of sugar or honey

After 15 minutes, test your blood glucose again to find out whether it has returned to a healthier level. Once blood glucose is stable, if it will be at least an hour before your next meal, it's a good idea to eat a snack.

To be safe when you exercise, carry something to treat hypoglycemia, such as glucose tablets or hard candy. Another good idea is to wear a medical identification bracelet or necklace in case of emergency. Teach your exercise partners the signs of hypoglycemia and what to do about it.

When You Are Sick

It's important to take care of your diabetes even when you're ill. Here are some tips on what to do:

Even if you can't keep food down, keep taking your diabetes medicine.
Drink at least one cup (8 ounces) of water or other calorie-free, caffeine-free liquid every hour while you're awake.
If you can't eat your usual food, try drinking juice or eating crackers, popsicles, or soup.
If you can't eat at all, drink clear liquids such as ginger ale. Eat or drink something with sugar in it if you have trouble keeping food down, because you still need calories. If you don't have enough calories, you increase your risk of hypoglycemia.
Make sure that you check your blood glucose. Your blood glucose level may be high even if you're not eating.
Call your doctor right away if you throw up more than once or have diarrhea for more than six hours.

More On Eating And Diabetes

Source: National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse