 Type 2 Diabetes
Day One ... You've already done something good. With a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, you can take charge of your life and alter the course of this disease. Some 5.2 million of America's 17 million people with type 2 diabetes have this serious condition and don't know it. Unlike them, you're on the road to managing your condition. And that's what your diagnosis of type 2 diabetes means. From here on, it's up to you. You can have a healthy, active life if you make up your mind to do so. Here's the bottom line after a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. You have to take care of yourself every day. This means:
Why Me? Why? In simplest terms, your body can no longer control how the food you eat gets used for energy. Food gets turned into sugar -- glucose. Every cell in your body is powered by glucose. Cells need insulin, a hormone made in your pancreas, to take in glucose. In type 2 diabetes, cells don't respond to insulin the way they should. The cells become resistant to insulin and glucose isn't removed efficiently from the blood. Blood-sugar levels can get dangerously high. The pancreas tries to make more and more insulin. Sometimes the pancreas wears out. That's when a person with type 2 diabetes has to take insulin. Why you? Some people inherit a tendency for type 2 diabetes. Some people with type 2 diabetes were overweight for too long, and their metabolism was thrown out of whack. Type 2 diabetes doesn't happen overnight. Prediabetes is a condition in which a person's blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. It is also called impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose. An estimated 20 million people in the U.S. have prediabetes. Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes Almost no other field of medicine is moving as quickly as diabetes treatment and care. New blood glucose testing devices reduce the need for finger-prick blood tests. New insulin pumps make it easier to take insulin than ever before. In January 2006 . These advances are making it more painless to take insulin than ever before. And many of the world's top scientists are working to improve type 2 diabetes treatments. The Big Picture With Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes means that your body doesn't automatically control your blood sugar. That's up to you. The goal is to keep your blood sugar levels as close to those of a person who doesn't have type 2 diabetes. Your doctor will help you set blood sugar goals. Achieving these goals vastly lowers your risk of the terrible complications of untreated type 2 diabetes: damage to your eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart. Meal Plans for Type 2 Diabetes Don't skip meals! Most people with type 2 diabetes should plan low-fat, low-salt diets. These diets are well balanced in major nutrients, including carbohydrates -- they are not considered low- carbohydrate diets. A well-balanced diet is one that can help lower blood sugar to a normal range without causing low blood sugar or high fat levels in your blood, while promoting weight loss. Eat high-fiber foods such as beans, vegetables, and whole grains. You don't have to reinvent the wheel. Ask your doctor for the name of a qualified dietitian who can help you make a meal plan you can live with. Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes Who wants to be a couch potato, anyway? People with type 2 diabetes should do some form of physical activity on most days of the week. Speak with your doctor first to see what type of exercise you should start with. You may be cautioned against certain types of physical activity and certain degrees of exertion. If you have heart disease or would like to plan a more moderate to intense level of physical activity, consult your doctor before you start. Why?
Medication and Type 2 Diabetes This is essential for people with type 2 diabetes. If you need insulin, you can't get by without it. Follow your doctor's orders very carefully. If daily injections are hard for you, ask about an insulin pump. You can also ask about getting insulin via an inhaler. If your body makes insulin, you may need to take diabetes pills that either help your body respond to insulin better or help you make more insulin. It's very important to take these medications for type 2 diabetes exactly as your doctor advises. Don't take any other medicines unless you first check with your doctor. Don't forget that type 2 diabetes increases your risk of heart disease even more than in people who don't have diabetes. Ask your doctor if you should take an aspirin a day to reduce the risk of heart disease. No matter what kind of medication for type 2 diabetes you take, you still MUST follow your meal plan. Blood Sugar Levels and Type 2 Diabetes There's only one way people with type 2 diabetes can tell how they're doing. You must test your blood regularly to know your blood-sugar level. Some people only have to check once a day. Others must test several times. Your doctor will show you how to do this test. Don't miss scheduled test times! You'll also have to see how your overall blood sugar level is doing. This test is called the hemoglobin A1c test. People with type 2 diabetes should have this test done every three months or so, depending on how well their blood sugar has been controlled. Support for People With Type 2 Diabetes Don't worry! You can keep your body under control. Millions of people with type 2 diabetes live fulfilling lives. Don't take our word for it -- ask them directly. Join a support group for people with type 2 diabetes in your hometown or online. You'll find your future is better than you may think. Yours in health, Medically reviewed by , February 2006. |
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Day One
