When taking insulin, the thickness of fat under the skin at the injection site, exercising before or after an injection, and air temperature can all affect how quickly insulin is absorbed.

If you take rapid-acting insulin with meals, try taking it five, 10, and 15 minutes before eating on different occasions to determine which timing is best for you to control your postmeal blood glucose spike. Check your blood glucose level one, two, and three hours after your meal to gauge the effect.

For most adults with diabetes, the recommended A1C target is below 7%. However, because everyone’s health situation is unique, you need to work with your health care team to set an A1C goal that will work best for you. Similarly, how often your A1C level should be checked depends on your degree of blood glucose control and your physician’s judgment.

If you are confused about what your blood glucose readings mean or about what could have caused a reading, go over them with a diabetes educator or with your health care provider.

If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, try cutting down on caffeine, avoiding naps during the day, and getting regular exercise early in the day.

Always check the expiration date before starting a new vial or box of strips. Keep your strips sealed in their packaging and away from extreme temperatures.

If you notice a regular pattern of high blood glucose around the time of your period, talk to your doctor about making a monthly adjustment to your insulin or oral medicine regimen.

Check your blood glucose more frequently following intense or extended exercise, and reduce your long-acting insulin dose or consume an extra snack after the activity if necessary.

Food logs help you (and your dietitian) see what and how much you’re eating, as well as certain patterns to your eating, and how your food intake might be affecting your blood sugars. When you really take a look at your logs, you can gain some serious insight into your food intake and then think about what you might need to do to make improvements.

Flossing helps clean your teeth, banishes bad breath, and, most importantly, can help prevent against tooth loss (which is more common in people with diabetes) by removing bacteria and plaque that lurk between your teeth.

If you know that you will be eating more than usual, you may need to increase your insulin or fast-acting oral medicine dose prior to eating.

Substituting foods with a lower glycemic index for foods with a higher glycemic index in your diet will help to reduce your after-meal blood glucose spikes.

A fever, pain in the back or side below the ribs, nausea, or vomiting along with symptoms of a urinary tract infection may indicate that the infection has reached the kidneys.

Look for urine ketone strips that are come in individually-wrapped packets, which last longer than those that come packaged together once the package is opened. Since they may be used only sporadically, this can help ensure that they are not wasted.

One important role that vitamin C may play is protecting against damage to DNA within cells throughout the body. Good sources of vitamin C include guava, red and green bell peppers, kiwifruit, and oranges.

Avoiding all episodes of hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) may be impossible for many people, especially since maintaining tight blood glucose control brings with it a higher risk of hypoglycemia. However, although hypoglycemia can, at times, be unpleasant, don’t risk your health by allowing your blood glucose levels to run higher than recommended to avoid it.

In some cases, people who have had chronically high blood glucose levels may experience symptoms of hypoglycemia when their blood glucose level drops to a more normal range.

When you take insulin or a drug that increases the amount of insulin in your system, not eating enough food at the times the insulin or drug is working can cause hypoglycemia. Physical activity and exercise lower blood glucose levels by increasing insulin sensitivity.