Comprehensive Diabetes Management Program

A care plan based on diabetes type, blood glucose levels, lifestyle, medications, risks, and personal goals.

Practical education to help people with diabetes manage their condition safely in daily life.

Dietitian-guided support for healthy eating, portion control, and meal timing.

Guidance on safe exercise and dailyphysical activity based on the person's health status and individual needs.

Support for women with diabetes before, during, and after pregnancy.

Education on blood glucose testing, HbA1c, glucose patterns, continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS) and when to seekadvice.

Guidance on medication adherence,insulin therapy, injection techniques, insulin pump use, and medication safety.

Comprehensive care for diabetes-related eye, kidney, nerve, foot, heart, and vascular complications, including risk assessment, prevention, early detection, screening, treatment,ongoing monitoring, and timely referral to the appropriate specialists.

Support for diabetes-related stress, anxiety, and coping with long-term care.

Advice on medication, insulin, glucose testing, meals, and emergency preparation during travel.

Pre-Ramadan assessment and guidance onsafe fasting, medication timing, hydration, and glucose monitoring.

Regular physical activity helps improve blood glucose control, supports weight management, strengthens the heart and muscles, improves circulation, reduces stress, and supports overall wellbeing.

What You Should Do

• Discuss your exercise plan with yourdoctor before starting, especially if you use insulin or have heart, kidney,eye, nerve, or foot problems.
• Start slowly and increase activitygradually.
• Choose activities that you can doregularly, such as walking, cycling, swimming, stretching, or light strengthexercises.
• Check blood glucose before and afterexercise if advised by your healthcare team.
• Carry a fast-acting source of sugarduring exercise.
• Drink enough water before, during, andafter activity.
• Wear comfortable shoes and check yourfeet after exercise.
• Avoid exercise if you feel unwell,dizzy, very weak, or if your blood glucose is very low or very high.
• Stop exercise and seek medical adviceif you develop chest pain, severe shortness of breath, dizziness, or footwounds.

Physical activity should be safe, regular, and suitable for your health condition.

Healthy eating is one of the most important parts of diabetes management. What you eat, how much you eat, and when you eat can affect your blood glucose levels.

What You Should Do

• Eat balanced meals at regular times.
• Avoid skipping meals, especially if you take insulin or diabetes medications that may cause hypoglycemia.
• Control food portions.
• Choose whole grains instead of white bread and refined carbohydrates.
• Eat more vegetables and high-fiber foods.
• Choose lean protein such as fish, chicken, eggs, beans, and low-fat dairy.
• Reduce sugary drinks, sweets, desserts, and added sugar.
• Limit fried food, fast food, animal fat, and high-fat meals.
• Drink water instead of sweetened drinks.
• Follow the meal plan recommended by your dietitian or doctor.
• Keep meal timing consistent when possible.
• Take medicines at the correct time in relation to meals, as advised by your doctor.

A healthy meal plan should be practical, culturally suitable, and easy to follow every day.

Some people with prediabetes may require medication, while all people with diabetes should receive an individualized treatment plan based on their clinical needs. People with type 1 diabetes require insulin therapy. People with type 2 diabetes may require oral medications, injectable therapies, insulin, or a combination of these treatments.

What You Should Do

• Take your medication exactly as prescribed.
• Do not stop, skip, or change the dose without medical advice.
• Take medication at the same time each day, or as instructed.
• Understand when to take medication in relation to meals.
• Learn the correct insulin injection technique if you use insulin.
• Rotate injection sites to avoid skin problems and poor insulin absorption.
• Store insulin as advised, away from direct heat and sunlight.
• Keep extra diabetes supplies available, especially during travel.
• Check expiry dates of insulin, tablets, glucose strips, and supplies.
• Inform your doctor if you have low blood glucose and repeated high readings, side effects, vomiting, or reduced food intake.

Medication works best when combined with healthy eating, physical activity, and regular monitoring.

Blood glucose monitoring helps you understand how food, exercise, medication, stress, illness, and daily routine affect your diabetes.

Why Monitoring Is Important?

Blood glucose results help you and your healthcare team decide whether your treatment plan is working. Results also help identify patterns, prevent low and high blood glucose, and guide medication adjustment.

When You May Need to Check Blood Glucose

Follow your doctor’s advice. You may be asked to check:

• Before meals
• After meals
• Before bedtime
• Before and after exercise
• When you feel symptoms of low or high blood glucose
• During illness
• During fasting
• Before driving, if you are at risk of low blood glucose
• More frequently when medication or insulin doses change

Keep arecord of your results and bring them to your appointment.

Low blood glucose is also called hypoglycemia. It commonly occurs when blood glucose falls below 70 mg/dL. It may happen due to missed meals, delayed meals, eating less than usual, too much insulin or diabetes medication, increased exercise, illness, or alcohol intake.

Symptoms of Low Blood Glucose

Symptoms may include:

• Sweating
• Shaking or trembling
• Hunger
• Weakness
• Pale skin
• Fast heartbeat
• Anxiety
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Numbness around the mouth or tongue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Confusion
• Fainting or seizure in severe cases

What to Do During Low Blood Glucose

If you feel symptoms of low blood glucose: Check your blood glucose if possible.

1. If your blood glucose is low, take a fast-acting source of sugar.
2. Recheck your blood glucose after 15 minutes.
3. If it is still low, repeat the treatment.
4. Once improved, eat a meal or snack if your next meal is not soon.
5. Record the episode and inform your doctor if it happens repeatedly.

Examples of fast-acting sugar may include glucose tablets, fruit juice, regular soft drink, honey, or sweets, as advised by your healthcare team.

How to Prevent Low Blood Glucose

1. Do not skip meals.
2. Take medicines as prescribed.
3. Check blood glucose regularly.
4. Carry a source of sugar at all times.
5. Eat snacks if advised by your doctor or dietitian.
6. Be careful with extra physical activity.
7. Inform your doctor if low blood glucose occurs repeatedly.

Seek urgent medical help if the person with diabetes is unconscious, confused, having a seizure, unable to swallow, vomiting, or not improving after treatment.

High blood glucose is also called hyperglycemia. It may happen when medication is missed, insulin is not enough, food intake is high, physical activity is reduced, or during stress, infection, illness, or dehydration.

Symptoms of High Blood Glucose

Symptoms may include:

• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Blurred vision
• Tiredness or weakness
• Dry mouth
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Ketone-smelling breath
• Drowsiness or fainting

What to Do During High Blood Glucose

If your blood glucose is high:

1. Drink water unless your doctor has restricted fluids.
2. Take your medication or insulin as prescribed.
3. Avoid sugary drinks and sweets.
4. Check your blood glucose more frequently.
5. Check ketones if advised, especially if you have type 1 diabetes, vomiting, abdominal pain, or very high readings.
6. Contact your doctor if readings remain high or symptoms continue.
7. Seek urgent care if you feel very unwell.

How to Prevent High Blood Glucose

1. Take medicines regularly.
2. Follow your meal plan.
3. Stay physically active.
4. Monitor blood glucose as advised.
5. Drink enough water.
6. Do not ignore infection, fever, vomiting, or illness.
7. Follow your sick-day plan if you are unwell.

Illness can raise blood glucose, even if you are eating less.

What You Should Do

• Check blood glucose more often.
• Continue insulin or diabetes medication unless your doctor advises otherwise.
• Drink fluids to prevent dehydration.
• Check ketones if advised.
• Eat small portions if needed.

Contact your doctor if blood glucose stays high, vomiting continues, or you feel very weak.

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Diabetes can affect foot nerves and blood circulation,so even small wounds may become serious if not treated early.

What You Should Do Daily

• Checkyour feet every day for cuts, wounds, redness, swelling, blisters, cracks, orcolor changes.
• Washand dry your feet gently, especially between the toes.
• Wearcomfortable, well-fitting shoes and avoid walking barefoot.
• Keepyour skin moisturized, but do not apply cream between the toes.
• Cuttoenails carefully and avoid self-treating corns, calluses, or wounds.
• Avoiddirect heat, hot water bottles, or heating pads on the feet.

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People with diabetes should consult their doctor before Ramadan, preferably at least one month before fasting.

Before Fasting

• Ask your doctor if fasting is safe for you.
• Review your medication and insulin timing.
• Discuss blood glucose monitoring during fasting.
• Plan Iftar and Suhoor meals carefully.
• Drink enough water between Iftar and Suhoor.
• Avoid overeating and high-sugar foods.
• Know when to break the fast for safety.

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Living with diabetes can sometimes feel stressful. Daily monitoring, medication, food choices, insulin adjustments, and fear of complications may affect emotional wellbeing.

What You Should Do

• Speak openly with your healthcare team if diabetes feels overwhelming.
• Ask for support if you feel anxious, sad, tired, or unable to follow your care plan.
• Do not judge yourself based on one blood glucose reading.
• Look for patterns instead of focusing on single results.
• Set small, realistic goals.
• Involve family members or trusted caregivers when needed.
• Emotional support is an important part of diabetes care.

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