SOADI Frontline Training - CAMH - Nicotine Dependence Clinic

SOADI FRONTLINE TRAINING 11
Food
Healthy eating is a vital part of diabetes management because it
helps people maintain healthy weights and can help delay the onset
of complications. Traditional foods such as wild meat, fish, plants,
and berries are positive additions to the person living with diabetes’
diet.
We are taught that food is medicine. It is therefore important to
nourish our bodies with the proper amounts. This helps us maintain
our spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental health. Healthy eating
includes:
Figure 8 Traditional foods like
berries are a great addition to a
person living with diabetes' diet.
• Three meals per day at around the same time every day.
• Meals served four to six hours apart with healthy snacks
between meals.
• Foods low in fat, salt, and sugar.
• High-fibre foods.
• Using Canada’s Food Guide to help make good food choices.
• Paying attention to portion sizes.
Exercise
Exercise plays an important role in effective diabetes management.
It helps blood flow for a stronger heart, builds strong bones and
muscles, helps us maintain a healthy weight, reduces stress, lowers
blood sugars, and lifts our spirits.
Finding an enjoyable activity is essential, as it should be something
that we do every day. It is also a good idea to exercise after meals.
Monitoring
Good blood-glucose levels decrease the risk of complications. It is
therefore important to:
• Test regularly, at different times of the day.
• Before meals, levels should be 4-7
• 2+ hours after a meal should be 4-7
• 1-2 hours after a meal should be 4-10
• Target ranges may differ for individuals. We are all unique.
• Record levels in a journal to see progress, trends, etc.
• Test if you are not feeling well or if you feel you are having a low
blood sugar reaction.
Taking responsibility and ensuring that we learn how to manage our
blood-glucose levels will help to delay or prevent the onset of
complications.
Figure 9 Keeping track of testing
allows us to view progress.