4 Steps

to Control 

 Your Diabetes.

For Life.

National Diabetes Education Program

1-888-693-NDEP (1-888-693-6337) • www.YourDiabetesInfo.org
Contents

Introduction 1

Step 1: Learn about diabetes. 3

Step 2: Know your diabetes ABCs. 6

Step 3: Manage your diabetes. 8

Step 4: Get routine care. 11

My Diabetes Care Record 13

Notes 16

Where to get help Inside Back Cover
4 Steps to Control 

Your Diabetes. For Life. 

This booklet presents four key steps to help you 

manage your diabetes and live a long and active life.

Step 1: Learn about diabetes.

Step 2: Know your diabetes ABCs.

Step 3: Manage your diabetes.

Step 4

NATIONAL DIABETES EDUCATION PROGRAM

1
Diabetes is a serious disease. It affects almost every part of 

your body. That is why a health care team may help you 

take care of your diabetes:

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 doctor n	

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dentist

diabetes educator dietitian

eye doctor foot doctor

mental health counselor nurse

nurse practitioner pharmacist

social worker friends and family

You are the most important member of the team.

2

The 3 marks in this booklet show actions 

you can take to manage your diabetes.

3				Help your health care team 

make a diabetes care plan that 

will work for you.

3				Learn to make wise choices 

for your diabetes care 

each day.
Step 1:

Learn about diabetes. 

Diabetes means that your blood glucose (blood sugar) is 

too high. These are the main types of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes — the body does 

not make insulin. Insulin helps the 

body use glucose from food for energy. 

People with type 1 need to take insulin 

every day.

Type 2 diabetes — the body does not 

make or use insulin well. People with type 2 

often need to take pills or insulin. Type 2 is 

the most common form of diabetes.

Gestational (jes-TAY-shon-al) 

diabetes — occurs in some women 

when they become pregnant. It 

raises her future risk of developing 

diabetes, mostly type 2. It may raise 

her child’s risk of being overweight 

and developing type 2 diabetes. 

3
4

Diabetes is serious.

You may have heard people say they have “a touch of diabetes” 

or that their “sugar is a little high.” These words suggest that 

diabetes is not a serious disease. That is not correct. Diabetes 

is serious, but you can learn to manage it!

It’s Not Easy, But It’s Worth It.

All people with diabetes need 

to make healthy food choices, 

stay at a healthy weight, and 

move more every day.

Taking good care of yourself 

and your diabetes can help 

you feel better. It may help you 

avoid health problems caused 

by diabetes such as:

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heart attack and stroke

eye problems that can 

lead to trouble seeing or 

going blind

nerve damage that can 

cause your hands and feet 

to hurt, tingle, or feel numb. 

Some people may even lose 

a foot or a leg

kidney problems that 

can cause your kidneys 

to stop working

gum disease and loss 

of teeth 
When your blood glucose is close to normal you are likely to:

n have more energy

n be less tired and thirsty and urinate less often

n heal better and have fewer skin or bladder infections

n have fewer problems with your eyesight, feet, and gums 

3			 Ask your health care team which 

 type of diabetes you have.

3			 Learn why diabetes is serious.

3					Learn how caring for your diabetes

 helps you feel better today and in 

 the future.

5
Step 2:

Know your diabetes ABCs.

Talk to your health care team about how to manage your A1C, 

Blood pressure, and Cholesterol. This can help lower your 

chances of having a heart attack, stroke, or other diabetes 

problems. Here’s what the ABCs of diabetes stand for: 

A for the A1C test (A-one-C).

It shows what your blood glucose has 

been over the last three months. The 

A1C goal for many people is below 7. 

High blood glucose can harm your 

heart and blood vessels, kidneys, feet, 

and eyes.

B for Blood pressure.

The goal for most people with 

diabetes is below 130/80.

High blood pressure makes your heart 

work too hard. It can cause heart 

attack, stroke, and kidney disease.

C for Cholesterol (ko-LES-ter-ol).

The LDL goal for people with diabetes is below 100. 

The HDL for men is greater than 40. 

The HDL for women is greater than 50.

LDL or “bad” cholesterol can build up and clog your 

blood vessels. It can cause a heart attack or a stroke. 

HDL or “good” cholesterol helps remove cholesterol 

from your blood vessels.

6
3			 Ask your health care team:

n what your A1C, blood pressure, and 

 cholesterol numbers are

n what your A1C*, blood pressure, and 

cholesterol numbers should be

n what you can do to reach your targets 

3			 Write down all your numbers

 on the record card at the 

 back of this booklet.

* An A1C of less than 7 is the goal for many 

 people but not for everyone. Talk to your 

 health care team about what A1C target is 

 right for you.

7
Step 3:

Manage your diabetes.

Many people avoid the long-term problems of diabetes by 

taking good care of themselves. Work with your health care 

team to reach your ABC target. Use this self-care plan.

n Follow your diabetes meal plan. If you do not 

have one, ask your health care team to help you develop a meal plan. 

— Eat healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, 

 fish, lean meats, chicken or turkey without the 

 skin, dry peas or beans, whole grains, and low-fat 

 or skim milk and cheese.

 — Keep fish and lean meat and poultry portions 

 to about 3 ounces (or the size of a deck of cards). 

 Bake, broil, or grill it.

 — Eat foods that have less fat and salt.

 — Eat foods with more fiber such as whole-grain

 cereals, breads, crackers, rice, or pasta.

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Get 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity on most 

days of the week. Brisk walking is a great way to move 

more.

Stay at a healthy weight by using your meal plan 

and moving more.

Ask for help if you feel down. A mental health 

counselor, support group, member of the clergy, friend, 

or family member who will listen to your concerns 

may help you feel better. 

Learn to cope with stress. Stress can raise your 

blood glucose. While it is hard to remove stress from 

your life, you can learn to handle it. NDEP’s Diabetes 

HealthSense provides online access to resources that 

support people with diabetes in making changes to live 

well. For more information visit 

www.YourDiabetesInfo.org/HealthSense. 

Stop smoking. Ask for help to quit. 

Call 1-800-QUITNOW(1-800-784-8669).

Take medicines even when you feel good. Ask 

your doctor if you need aspirin to prevent a heart 

attack or stroke. Tell your doctor if you cannot afford 

your medicines or if you have any side effects.
10

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Check your feet every day for cuts, blisters, red 

spots, and swelling. Call your health care team right 

away about any sores that do not go away.

Brush your teeth and floss every day to avoid 

problems with your mouth, teeth, or gums.

Check your blood glucose. You may want to test it 

one or more times a day. Use the card at the back of this 

booklet to keep a record of your blood glucose numbers.

Be sure to show it to your health care team. 

Check your blood pressure if your doctor advises.

Report any changes in your eyesight to your health

care team. 

3		Talk to your health care team about your 

blood glucose targets. Ask how and when 

to test your blood glucose and how to use 

the results to manage your diabetes.

3		Use this plan as a guide to your self-care.

3	Discuss how your self-care plan is 

working for you each time you visit 

your health care team. 
Step 4:

Get routine care. 

See your health care team at least twice a year to find 

and treat any problems early. 

At each visit be sure you have a:

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blood pressure check

foot check

weight check

review of your self-care plan shown in Step 3

Two times each year have an:

n A1C test – it may be checked more often if it is over 7 

Once each year be sure you have a:

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cholesterol test 

triglyceride (try-GLISS-er-ide) test — a type of blood fat

complete foot exam

dental exam to check teeth and gums — tell your dentist 

you have diabetes

dilated eye exam to check for eye problems 

flu shot

urine and a blood test to check for kidney problems

At least once get a:

n pneumonia (nu-mo-nya) shot

11
3		 Ask your health care team about 

 these and other tests you may need. 

 Ask what your results mean.

3 Write down the date and time of your 

 next visit.

3		 Use the card at the back of this 

 booklet to keep a record of your 

 diabetes care.

	3		 If you have Medicare, ask your 

 health care team if Medicare will 

 cover some of the costs for

n	 learning about healthy eating 

and diabetes self-care 

n	 special shoes, if you need them

n	 medical supplies

n	 diabetes medicines

12
My Diabetes Care Record

Record your targets and the date, time, and results of your tests. Take 

this card with you on your health care visits. Show it to your health 

care team to remind them of tests you need.

 

TEAR HERE

A1C — At least twice each year Goal for many: below 7 My Target: _______

Date

Result

Blood Pressure (BP) — Each visit Goal for most: below 130/80 My Target: _______

Date

Result

Cholesterol (LDL) — Once each year Usual goal: below 100 My Target: _______

Date

Result

Cholesterol (HDL) — Once each year Usual goal: above 40 My Target: _______

Date

Result

Triglycerides — Once each year Usual goal: below 150 My Target: _______

Date

Result

Weight — Each visit My Target: _______

Date

Result

13

NATIONAL DIABETES EDUCATION PROGRAM

www.YourDiabetesInfo.org
My Diabetes Care Record

 

 Each visit 

Foot check

Review self-care 

plan

Weight check

Once a year

Dental exam

Dilated eye exam

Complete foot exam

Flu shot

Kidney check

At least once

Pneumonia shot

Date Result

NATIONAL DIABETES EDUCATION PROGRAM

www.YourDiabetesInfo.org

14

TEAR HERE
Self Checks of Blood Glucose

Record your targets and the date, time, and results of your checks. 

Take this card with you on your health care visits. Show it to your 

health care team.

 

TEAR HERE

Before meals:

Usual goal 70 to 130

My Target: _________

1-2 hours after meals:

Usual goal below 180

My Target: _________

Bedtime:

Usual goal 110-150

My Target: _________

15

NATIONAL DIABETES EDUCATION PROGRAM

www.YourDiabetesInfo.org
Notes:

16

NATIONAL DIABETES EDUCATION PROGRAM

www.YourDiabetesInfo.org

TEAR HERE
Where to get help:

Many of these groups offer items in English and Spanish.

American Association of Diabetes Educators

1-800-338-3633

www.diabeteseducator.org

American Diabetes Association

1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383)

www.diabetes.org

American Dietetic Association

1-800-877-0877

www.eatright.org

American Heart Association

1-800-AHA-USA1 (1-800-242-8721)

www.americanheart.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)

www.cdc.gov/diabetes

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)

www.medicare.gov/health/diabetes.asp

National Diabetes Education Program

1-888-693-NDEP (1-888-693-6337)

www.YourDiabetesInfo.org

National Diabetes Education Program: Diabetes HealthSense 

An online library of resources for living well. 

www.YourDiabetesInfo.org/HealthSense

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive 

and Kidney Diseases

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse

1-800-860-8747 

www.niddk.nih.gov

National Kidney Disease Education Program

1-866-4-KIDNEY (1-866-454-3639) 

www.nkdep.nih.gov
NIH Publication No. 11-5492 • May 2011

National Diabetes Education Program

1-888-693-NDEP (1-888-693-6337)

www.YourDiabetesInfo.org

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National 

Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) is jointly sponsored by the 

National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the support of 

more than 200 partner organizations.

Participants in research studies can play a more active role in 

improving their own health and help others by contributing to 

health-related research. See www.clinicaltrials.gov and www.

cdc.gov/diabetes/projects/index.htm. 

The NIDDK prints on recycled paper with bio-based ink.

Reviewed by Martha M. Funnell, MS, RN, CDE 

Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center