Diabetes – Sticking to your treatment plan helpful tips

Poor medication adherence (not taking medication as prescribed) is common: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that medication isn’t taken as prescribed 50% of the time – with serious health consequences.

The reasons people don’t stick to their medication schedule are various: not understanding the directions, forgetfulness, confusion about multiple medications with different regimens, unpleasant side-effects, and feeling medication isn’t working.

But to get the best results from your medication it’s crucial to keep taking it exactly as instructed. These tips can help:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions or doubts about your medication. Knowing exactly why a specific medication or insulin was recommended helps motivate you to take it, and understanding how and when to take it allows it to work as it was designed to.

You may be taking several different medicines: as well as pills to lower blood sugar, you may be on insulin, blood pressure medicine, cholesterol-lowering medicine, etc. Your doctor has carefully chosen these to work together effectively.

Never stop taking medications without consulting your doctor, even if you’re experiencing negative side-effects – this can be dangerous. If you’re unhappy about side-effects, chat to your doctor about making medication changes. It may take a while to tell how a new treatment works for you – so follow as prescribed, pay attention to how your body reacts, and report back.

• Use a pill container with daily compartments that you fill weekly. Some containers have sections for multiple doses at different times of the day.
• Take your medication at the same time/s every day. Incorporate taking medications into your routine e.g. before brushing your teeth or after breakfast. (Check if medications should be taken on a full or empty stomach).
• Schedule reminders on your cell phone or use a medication-reminder app.
• Tell family/friends your medication regime and have them remind you. .
• Keep a diary/calendar with your medication and note whenever you take a dose.

Keep a current list of your medicines with you, including dosage and directions.

When travelling, take sufficient medication with you, plus a few days extra, in case of  delays, and copies of prescriptions. If you’re flying, keep medication in your carry-on bag to avoid lost, delayed or damaged luggage.

While taking medicines diligently is vital, don’t neglect the other 3 of the 4 M’s:

Monitoring: Understanding your glucose readings

Meal planning: Healthy eating for diabetics

Motion: Physical activity and diabetes – tips to exercise safely