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Management and care

Good habits go a long way toward preventing or delaying the health problems that diabetes can cause. There is a lot you can do to prevent or delay the potential health complications that diabetes can lead to.

You can manage your condition and live well with diabetes. By setting a plan of action for managing your diabetes, you can reduce many of the risks associated with diabetes. A good place to start is knowing what diabetes health checks you should be getting. Members of your diabetes health care team can help you learn about diabetes, and the basics of diabetes care, as well as offer support.

Most people know what they should be doing for better health, but actually doing it is difficult. Setting yourself goals can be helpful. Goals increase motivation, improve health, relationships and general productivity. Talk to your health care team about setting some realistic and achievable goals.

Read more in our fact sheet Diabetes-related complications.

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Blood glucose monitoring

Hypoglycaemia

Ketoacidosis

Medications

Caring for yourself in hospital

Sick days

Safe sharps disposal

Your health care team

Health insurance

By law, health insurance companies are not allowed to discriminate against people with diabetes or any other chronic illness. While they are able to enforce waiting periods for existing conditions (there are prescribed limits to these) they cannot refuse to insure you because you have diabetes and they cannot charge you higher premiums than someone who doesn’t have diabetes.

Related topics

Diabetes-related complications

It is important to have regular health checks to identify problems early and put the best treatment in place.

A health professional and older man talking

Food and nutrition

Eating the right balance of healthy foods can help you live well with diabetes

Preparing a meal

Diabetes Australia acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this Country. We recognise their connection to land, waters, winds and culture. We pay the upmost respect to them, their cultures and to their Elders, past and present. We are committed to improving health outcomes for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affected by diabetes and those at risk.

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