Yes — fiber works together with fluid in the digestive system, so make sure to increase your nonalcoholic, noncaffeinated fluid intake along with your fiber intake unless you already drink plenty of fluids.

You should test your blood or urine for ketones whenever:

• There is an unexplained rise in your blood sugar, or you have a blood sugar level of more than 250 mg/dl (13.9 mmol/l) for two tests in a row;
• You have symptoms of nausea, vomiting, confusion, or severe fatigue;
• You have any symptoms of ketoacidosis such as increased thirst and urination, stomachache, or dry mouth;
• If you have a flu, infection, or injury;
• When you’re planning to exercise, but your blood sugar is over 250 mg/dl.
• If you are pregnant, check for ketones each morning before breakfast or whenever your glucose goes over 250 mg/dl.

Symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis include excessive thirst, dry mouth, frequent urination, and fruity-smelling breath (ketones have a fruity smell). Later, more dangerous symptoms can include nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, confusion, weakness and fatigue, and shortness of breath.

Even if you’re just going for a walk or a bike ride, pop a small bottle of water, a snack, your phone, some money, and your basic diabetes supplies into a small bag.

Once you get the OK to exercise from your doctor, try 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most, if not all, days of the week — even if you are not overweight.

To lower triglyceride levels, reduce your intake of refined or processed carbohydrates, such as candy, table sugar, white flour, and baked goods made with white flour.

According to guidelines from the American Diabetes Association, a cholesterol-lowering statin medication is recommended in people with diabetes ages 40 to 75 years who are at elevated cardiovascular disease risk, with the aim of decreasing LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by at least 50% to a target of less than 70 mg/dl.

To reduce your risk of coronary heart disease, reduce your intake of saturated and trans fat. Saturated fat should be less than 7% of your total calories per day and trans fat should be avoided.

Start with any goal you are ready to tackle. For example, if you see some areas in your meal plan that you are ready to “tune up,” focus on them first.

Engage in regular, weight-bearing physical activity and consume adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D.

Adequate levels of many nutrients, including calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, and vitamin K, are necessary to build healthy bones. The most important of these are calcium and vitamin D.

See your doctor immediately. Treatment may include oral or intravenous antibiotics to control the infection, as well as dressings and salves with lubricating, protective, antibiotic, or cleansing properties.

If you’re trying to lose weight, an exercise program that includes aerobic activity as well as some type of calisthenics or weight lifting will probably help you the most.

If you have diabetes, quitting smoking is arguably the single best thing you can do for your eyes (as well as your heart, lungs, kidneys, dental health, etc.).

Keeping your blood pressure at or below 115/75 mm Hg will greatly reduce the risk of losing vision to diabetes.

Before you leave the hospital, make sure you have in writing what your medicines and doses should be when you arrive home. If some of the medicines you were taking before hospitalization are not on the list of medicines to take after, ask why. Also, ask your usual pharmacist to check your new combination of medicines for potential drug interactions or anything that you may be allergic to.

People meeting their diabetes treatment goals should have an A1C (HbA1c) test at least twice a year, and those whose therapy has changed or who are not meeting their goals should be tested four times a year.

If you think your blood glucose level is low, address the problem promptly. Stop what you’re doing, check your blood glucose level with your meter, and have a snack if necessary, even if you have to stop your car or interrupt a conversation to do it. If you don’t have your meter with you or can’t use it for any reason, go ahead and treat your symptoms of hypoglycemia without checking your blood glucose level first.