Whether you just found out you have diabetes this week or you’ve been living with it for the past 30 years, managing your health can be complicated and, at times, frustrating. And yet you are your own best resource: Learning the fundamentals of diabetes management—and keeping up to date on how best to take care of yourself—will pay off big time in the long run.

That’s the idea behind this special guide. In the links below, we have distilled the most important information you need to jump-start your way to health, from medications to food, insurance issues to the emotional side of diabetes. We’ve also included some easy-to-use charts for tracking your blood glucose and the foods you eat; feel free to download them, print them out, and make copies.

There is always more to learn when it comes to diabetes. But mastering the basics will take you far—and help you to thrive for years to come.

Back to Basics: Testing

Back to Basics: Lows

Back to Basics: Meds

Back to Basics: Food

Back to Basics: Insurance

Back to Basics: Coping

Keep track of your health! Just print and fill out these handy charts:

Blood Glucose Journal

Medication Log

Food Diary