Ensure adequate hydration

People with diabetes are at a higher risk for dehydration because high blood sugar levels deplete fluids. Dehydration can cause skin to become dry, itch, and crack, increasing the risk of infection. Water is the ideal hydrator—it doesn’t raise blood sugar, and it has zero calories. A good target goal is to drink six to eight glasses a day for women and eight to ten glasses a day for men. If plain water doesn’t do it for you, try adding a few slices of citrus fruit or cucumber, a sprig of mint or lemon balm, or some frozen berries to either still or carbonated water. Other good options are teas (especially green teas, but also herbal, black, or white tea); vegetable juices made with celery, cucumber, leafy greens, ginger, lemon, or lime; and unsweetened nut or soy milk. If you’re a coffee drinker, monitor your blood sugar levels after drinking coffee; if you have a particularly negative reaction, switch to decaf or tea. If you do drink coffee, stick to black.