Diabetes Resource Center

Navigate Your Diabetes with Confidence

If you are living with diabetes, you may have many questions about how to take care of your health. It’s not always easy, but you can play a big role in your diabetes care. There are lots of steps you can take to help manage your diabetes in your everyday life. At Boston Medical Center (BMC), our group of certified diabetes education care specialists are dedicated to helping you—and you can use the resources below as a guide.

Take Control of Your Diabetes

Our resource center provides information on healthy eating, being physically active, monitoring blood sugars, managing diabetes when you are sick, understanding diabetes medications, and managing stress and day-to-day activities. Learn more:

Eating Healthy

Use our healthy eating resources to find a diet that works best for you. There is no “one-size-fits-all” diet for people with diabetes.

Eat What Works for You

Mindful Exercise

Boost your overall well-being by staying active. Finding activities you enjoy and making them part of your routine makes a big difference.

Find Ways to Get Moving

Blood Sugar Monitoring

Learn to better balance and track your blood glucose by understanding what affects your levels, so you can feel your best.

Monitor Your Numbers

Medicine for Diabetes

Take medications as prescribed to help lower your blood glucose. Pills are commonly used for type 2 diabetes, while insulin is usually required for type 1.

Know Your Medicine

Managing Complications

Make healthy lifestyle changes to lower your risk of diabetes complications—like quitting smoking, staying active, eating well, and checking your feet regularly.

Take Simple Steps to Stay Well

Mental Health Care

Get the care and support you need to stay healthy and feel your best. Living with diabetes isn’t always easy, but you don’t have to manage it alone.

Prioritize Your Wellbeing

Quick Help for Blood Sugar Management

Get insights into what your symptoms could mean for your health and learn more about low, normal, and high blood sugar.

If you think you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911.

I Have Low Blood Sugar

You may feel shaky, sweaty, hungry, irritable, or nervous. You might experience headaches, weakness, trouble concentrating, or an irregular heartbeat.

I Have High Blood Sugar

You may experience nausea and vomiting, “fruity breath,” chest or stomach pain, very dry skin and lips, labored breathing, or confusion.

I Feel Sick

You may experience symptoms related to a sickness like the flu, an infection, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, surgery, injury, or even a minor illness like a cold.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I at risk of developing diabetes?

The more risk factors you have, the higher your chances of developing diabetes. Risk factors include:

Overweight or obesity
Being age 40 or older
Family history of diabetes
Low levels of physical activity
High blood pressure or high cholesterol
History of gestational diabetes
Delivering a baby weighing more than 9 lbs.
Having African American, Latino, Asian, or Native American family background

How can I achieve and maintain good blood glucose control?

Take all medications as instructed.
Monitor your blood glucose daily and look for patterns.
Eat three balanced meals per day, manage carbohydrate portions, and reduce saturated fat intake.
Move your body—walk, dance, garden, clean; it doesn’t have to be the gym.
Stay motivated—learn about diabetes, talk with friends and family, and keep yourself informed.
Maintain a healthy weight.

Remember: Small changes can have a big impact!

What are the health risks of poorly controlled diabetes?

Diabetes can lead to serious health problems, including:

Leading cause of new blindness cases among adults
Two to four times higher risk of heart disease and stroke
Leading cause of end-stage renal disease, which may require dialysis or a kidney transplant
More than 60 percent of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations occur in people with diabetes
About 60 to 70 percent of diabetics experience some form of nervous system damage
Higher risk of gum disease
Greater susceptibility to infections and illness

Our Dedicated Team

The outstanding interdisciplinary team at BMC shares a commitment to helping you live life to the fullest. The team includes highly experienced diabetes specialists, nurse practitioners, certified diabetes educators (including nurses, pharmacists, and dietitians), and other specialists skilled in treating the complex needs of diabetes patients.

2024 Diabetes Education staff (left to right): Kyle Bertram, PharmD-CDCES, Katelyn O’Brien, PharmD-CDCES, Corrine Aia, RD-CDCES, Mara Garwood, RD-CDCES, Sheicia Paul, RN-CDCES, and Elizabeth Brouillard, RD-CDCES.

Meet Our Team

Reference Material

Diabetes Resource Book

Managing diabetes can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Boston Medical Center has created a diabetes resource book to help you build healthy habits, learn key skills, and stay on top of your care.

Inside, you’ll find practical tips on everything from healthy eating and stress management to blood sugar monitoring and staying active.

Download in English (PDF)

Also available in: Español | Kreyòl Ayisyen | Português | Tiếng Việt

Explore the Resource Center

Learn how to manage your diabetes with our guides, tips, and videos.

Step-By-Step Support