Top 5 Lifehacks for Diabetics

1. Have Snacks on Hand
Keeping snacks on hand makes it easier to stay in your target blood glucose range. If your blood sugar is dropping, a carb-rich snack can give you a boost and help you prevent hypoglycemia.

If you’re already near the bottom of or below your target range, having snacks readily available allows you to quickly implement the 15-15 rule: eat a snack that contains 15 grams of carbohydrates and check your blood sugar again after 15 minutes. Repeat until your blood sugar is back in your target range.

Having snacks on hand doesn’t just mean keeping them at home. Be sure to keep a supply at work, in your bag, and in your car, just in case.

2. Carry a Water Bottle
Water can play a big role in your blood sugar management. People with diabetes are prone to dehydration, and even mild dehydration can elevate your blood sugar. Carrying a water bottle with you and drinking water regularly—even before you feel thirsty—will help prevent dehydration and support healthy functioning. It can also help you refrain from drinking sugary beverages, and it may help you curb excessive eating if you’re watching your weight.

If you’re experiencing excessive thirst, talk to your healthcare practitioner.

3. Plan, Prep, and Track Your Meals
Maintaining a healthy diet and tracking your carb intake can help you keep your blood sugar on target. The following diabetes life hacks make it easier:

Plan and prep meals. Planning meals according to your nutritional goals and preparing them ahead of time ensures you have healthy options available when you need them. Not only does it save time and money, it also prevents you from reaching for unhealthy foods.
Pack smart. Pack snacks in individual bags and label each bag with the number of grams of carbs it contains. This is a quick way to track your carb intake when you’re away from home.
Use an app. Apps make it easier than ever to plan meals, track carbs, and gain insight into your diet. A glucose monitoring app is the perfect place to store this data and can help you understand the relationship between your blood sugar and your eating habits. Some apps also let you track water intake.
Talk to your healthcare provider to create a diet plan that’s right for you.

4. Choose an Automatic Blood Glucose Monitor
An automatic blood glucose monitor gives you a fast, simple, and discreet way to check your blood sugar no matter where you are. The POGO Automatic® Monitor uses a cartridge that integrates both test strips and lancets, which means you don’t need to use separate test strips and lancets. Each cartridge can be used for 10 blood glucose tests, so you don’t have to refill your device every time you test. Simply press a button to start the automatic lancing and blood collection process and get accurate results in seconds. With POGO Automatic, routine testing fits easily into your day.

5. Set Reminders
When life gets busy, it’s easy to get off course with your treatment plan. Automatic reminders can fix that. They can tell you when to take medications, check blood sugar levels, order supplies, drink water, and schedule appointments with your healthcare provider.

One of the best ways to set reminders is to use an app that coordinates with your blood glucose monitor. For example, the Patterns® for POGO Automatic app syncs with the POGO Automatic Monitor via Bluetooth and provides customizable notifications and test reminders to help you stay on schedule.