By Steven Walker

According to statistics provided by the American Diabetes Association, over 29 million Americans have diabetes. As debilitating as the disease can be, modern technology has made it easier than ever to manage diabetes while living a rather normal life.

In addition to the positive impact that modern medical technology has had on the lives of diabetics, there are some easy tips and tricks that you can follow to make your life with diabetes easier. Here is a look at what they are.

Exercise Before Injecting Insulin

One of the challenges for many individuals with diabetes is that insulin, when injected, can take quite some time to take full effect. Participating in light exercise can reduce blood glucose levels and helps your body become more sensitive to the effects caused by insulin, which results a shorter impact time.

The great thing about this hack is that you don’t have to go out and run a mile or weight lift for an hour for it to work. Even a few jumping jacks or a short walk can do the trick.

Create a System for Disposing of Syringes

As a diabetic, it doesn’t take long for you get used to having to buy and use syringes on a regular basis. But what about disposing of them? For many, creating a system for disposing syringes can be a huge time saver.

When disposing of your syringes, it is essential that you utilize a sharps container. Your local community will likely have information about steps you can take to dispose of a full sharps container.

If you’re looking for something more convenient, some private companies will allow you to schedule a pickup service or enter into a mail back program. No matter what option you decide to go with, it is imperative that the proper safety precautions are taken for disposal.

Put Supplies in a Clear Bag When Traveling

As if getting yourself through airport security wasn’t difficult enough, it can be even more of a hassle when you’re traveling with your diabetes supplies. In most cases, you can avoid excessive delays while going through checkpoints by putting all of your supplies in a clear bag.

A large Ziplock bag should do just fine here. You’ll also want to make sure you have your Medical Necessity Letter on hand. This hack also helps with organization, as you certainly don’t want to be scrambling around for your supplies when it’s needed.

Put a Key Finder On Your Glucose Monitor

For diabetics, your glucose monitor is your lifeline. When you can’t find it, the situation can cause quite a bit of panic. To help ensure that this doesn’t happen to you, use a key finder and attach it to your glucose monitor or, even better, put in your supplies bag.

There are plenty of key finders out there that even come with apps that will display exactly where your supplies are. This can be a life saver when you’re scrambling around searching for your supplies.

While managing a life with diabetes is certainly not easy, it can be much easier by utilizing the life hacks above. Give a few of them a try and experience the convenience that they can provide.