Janice Hidalgo: Hello! I am Janice Hidalgo, Project Manager for the Diabetes Self Management Educational Program at IPRO. We are talking about how to self-manage your diabetes by taking your medications properly. There are several types of medications that are often recommended for people with diabetes. They may include insulin, pills that lower your blood sugar, aspirin, blood pressure medication and cholesterol lowering medication. These and other medicines may work together to lower your blood sugar levels. Reduce your risk of complications and help you feel better. Your medications come with specific instructions for use. They can affect your body differently depending on when and how you take them. It may take a while to figure out which medications work best for your body. So it's important for you to pay attention to how you feel and how your body reacts to each new medicine or treatment. Tell your pharmacist, doctor, nurse practitioner or diabetes educator, if you've noticed any side effects. It's important to know the names, doses and instructions for the medications you're taking as well as the reasons they are recommended for you. Remember to ask your doctor, nurse practitioner or pharmacist why a certain medication was recommended for you. If you work with a diabetes educator, ask him or her to help you figure medication routine into your daily schedule. Be sure to bring all your medications or labels with you when you go to your health appointments. Ask a family member to go with you to appointments and take notes about medication instructions or ask someone to remind you to take your medications if you have difficulty remembering to take them. You can also remind yourself to take your medications by linking it to a specific activity, like watching the news every night, or brushing your teeth or by setting an alarm on your watch or cell phone. Take a pen and some paper with you to your health care visit and take notes when your healthcare professional tells you about your medicine. Be sure to let the healthcare professional know of any side effects that you might be experiencing. Keep a list of medications you are taking, write down the name of the medication, the dose, how often you take it, what it is prescribed for, when it was prescribed and by whom. What are some of the possible side effects and how to treat them? If you like to learn more about diabetes self-management check out our other videos in these series including how to cope with difficult emotions.