Fitting your diabetes action plan into your life

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A diabetes plan is a written guide that helps you manage your condition and tells you what to do when your diabetes is under control,

when symptoms are getting worse, and when you're having an emergency. Think about it like any other healthy habit,

just like choosing salad instead of fries or water instead of soda. A diabetes plan can fit into your life

and help you better manage your diabetes. It's important to review your diabetes plan at least once a year with your doctor or when your symptoms or treatment

changes. A diabetes plan is generally broken into three zones-- green, yellow, and red, kind of like a stoplight.

You're in the green zone when your diabetes is controlled. Your sugars are in the range recommended by your health care provider, you're following your eating and exercise plans,

and you don't have symptoms of illness like cold or flu. The green zone means all clear.

It contains information about your daily diabetes plan, how to take your meds as directed, and how often to check your sugars and blood pressure.

You'll also see reminders to help keep your diabetes on track, like doing daily feet checks. You're in the yellow zone when your diabetes symptoms

are worsening. If you're in the yellow zone, tell your doctor. You may need to change or add medication. The yellow zone means caution.

It contains a sick plan, which tells you to continue your prescribed meds, how often to check your sugars, and ketones.

The yellow zone tells you what to do if your sugars go high or low and how to replace missed meals.

It also contains a warning zone, which tells you when to call your doctor right away if you have urgent symptoms like very high or very low

blood sugar or vomiting and diarrhea. The red zone is the emergency zone. It means call 9-1-1 now.

It gives you information on emergency symptoms that mean get help now, like severely low blood sugar or high blood sugar and possible ketoacidosis.

Your diabetes plan also has a section where you can write questions for your health care provider and a lifestyle section with tips