Most of us know that eating well and being physically active are part of a healthy lifestyle. But, for the more than 20 million Americans with diabetes, these activities are just part of the self-care routine necessary to live a healthy life.

Many people with diabetes feel overwhelmed as they work to eat healthy foods, exercise, monitor their blood glucose, take medications and schedule regular check-ups.

The American Association of Diabetes Educators has created Side by Side: A Partner Approach to Diabetes Self-Care to help you learn that:

• You’re not alone in your diabetes self-care.
• Partners can help. A diabetes care team, consisting of your doctors, diabetes educators, other health care professionals and your family and friends, can be your partners in care and offer support and guidance along the way.
• You can set and achieve diabetes self-care goals. There are seven self-care behaviors that can help you manage your diabetes. Working with your diabetes care team will help you determine how to fit them into your life.

Find out how you can work side by side with your diabetes care team and how family and friends can help.