Diabetes Quiz: Test Your Type 2 IQ

A low-carb diet is the best diet for people with type 2 diabetes.
True
False
A low-carb diet is the best diet for people with type 2 diabetes.
There is no best diet for diabetes. They all have strengths and weaknesses. You need a weight loss plan that is healthy, realistic, and that you can commit to for lasting change. Ask your doctor or dietitian to help you make a food and exercise plan that's right for you.

If you have type 2 diabetes, you will always have to take medicine.
True
False
If you have type 2 diabetes, you will always have to take medicine.
Many people can keep good blood sugar levels without medicine. The key is to lose any extra weight, exercise regularly, watch your meal portions, and spread the carbohydrates you eat throughout the day.
If you're already taking diabetes medication, you may be able to work with your doctor to cut back or even stop taking it if you lose weight or become more active.

Saltines are a better source of sugar than low-fat milk.
True
False
Saltines are a better source of sugar than low-fat milk.
A cup (8 ounces) of low-fat milk or four or five saltine crackers can give you a quick pick up if your blood glucose drops.
If you take medicine that can make your blood sugar drop, always carry a 15-gram fast-acting carb snack. That could be five or six pieces of hard candy, three or four glucose tablets, or 2 tablespoons of raisins. Recheck your blood sugar in 15 minutes and eat again if it's still low. Keep doing this until your blood sugar gets better.

Even if you take care of yourself, you may still have to take insulin.
True
False
Even if you take care of yourself, you may still have to take insulin.
You may eventually have to take insulin even if you’ve done a good job controlling your blood glucose for a long time with diet and exercise. In some people, type 2 diabetes can get worse with time. Your body may make less insulin as you age. Or you may become resistant to insulin because of weight gain or stress.
Taking insulin injections adds to all the other work you’ve done and helps keep your blood glucose at a healthy level.

Your fingertip is the only place you can check your blood sugar.
True
False
Your fingertip is the only place you can check your blood sugar.
It's OK to use your forearm, thigh, or even the fleshy part of your hand with some blood glucose meters. But it's still best to test blood from your fingertip, especially when you feel low blood sugars coming on, after meals or taking insulin, when you’re exercising, or when you're sick or stressed. Blood sugar levels in your fingertips show changes faster than other parts of the body. To avoid sore fingertips, prick the side of your finger, near the nail.

If you are overweight, losing how much weight helps your diabetes?
At least 5% to 10% of your body weight
At least 20% of your body weight
All the extra weight
If you are overweight, losing how much weight helps your diabetes?
Losing even a few pounds can improve your blood glucose control. For example, if you weigh 180 pounds, losing 9 to 18 pounds can lower your blood sugar. Talk to your doctor about a weight loss plan that will work for you. Ask the dietitian on your diabetes care team for advice, too.

A 30-minute walk three times a week is enough exercise.
True
False
A 30-minute walk three times a week is enough exercise.
You should get 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a week. That's 30 minutes of aerobics at least 5 days a week.
Walking counts, as long as you're working hard enough that you can't sing. You should also do strength training two or three times a week, using weight machines, handheld weights, resistance bands, or your own body weight for resistance. A certified trainer can show you how to do each move.

What should your target A1C should be?
Above 20%
Below 15%
Below 7%
What should your target A1C should be?
The A1c test tells you how much extra glucose has been in your bloodstream over the past few months. For most people with diabetes, 7% or less is a good goal, especially during the first few years after diagnosis. A higher A1c means complications are more likely.

Mouth problems can make diabetes worse.
True
False
Mouth problems can make diabetes worse.
Type 2 diabetes, especially if it's not well controlled, makes gum disease more likely. Severe gum disease, in turn, can raise your blood sugar, making it harder to control. Besides brushing, flossing and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash daily, get regular dental checkups and exams. See your dentist right away if your gums are swollen, tender, or bleeding, or pull away from your teeth (are receding).

Which is not a symptom of low blood sugar?
Shakiness
Sudden mood changes
Tingling mouth
Back pain
Which is not a symptom of low blood sugar?
You can't always prevent hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, and some people may not feel it when it happens. But by monitoring your blood sugar and knowing the symptoms, you can treat it before it gets dangerous.
Sweating, hunger, pale skin, and trouble focusing are other symptoms. If your blood sugar is low or you can't check it, take some quick-acting sugar like juice, a tablespoon of honey, or 4 teaspoons of sugar. Wait 15 minutes, check again, and repeat until you feel normal.