How to Live With Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which the body does not use the insulin it produces properly, or it does not produce enough insulin. Type 2 accounts for over 90% of all diabetes cases.

There are many risk factors associated with diabetes. If you have a family member with diabetes, your chances of developing the disease are significantly higher. Other risk factors include race. If you are Asian, African American, Latin, Native American, or a Pacific Islander, you are at an increased risk. Other significant risk factors include being over 40, being overweight, having high cholesterol, having high blood pressure, and being physically inactive. If you are female, gestational diabetes during pregnancy is also a risk factor.

Diagnosing diabetes is simple. Your doctor will take some blood after youve been fasting overnight. The blood will be examined for the amount of glucose. If you have a fasting glucose of between 110 and 125, you are pre-diabetic. If your fasting glucose is over 126, you will be diagnosed with diabetes. Often, your doctor will repeat the test on another day.

When people are first diagnosed with diabetes, they are often depressed, seeing diabetes as a sign of failure, or as some kind of death sentence. It is neither of these things. You can consider diabetes a way to prompt you into positive action. The actions you need to take to manage your diabetes successfully are the same ones you need to take to be a healthier person. As a newly diagnosed diabetic, you will have a more compelling reason to create a healthier lifestyle for yourself.

Lifestyle change is the first line of defense against diabetes. Your doctor may need to prescribe medication, but s/he will also prescribe diet and exercise. Even a small reduction in weight, as little as 10%, can result in a dramatic improvement in your blood glucose levels.

Regular exercise helps the body to utilize insulin more effectively. Insulin is responsible for maintaining proper blood glucose levels. It is possible to reverse diabetes with diet and exercise alone. If you are not fortunate enough to achieve this result, the improved insulin response is reason enough to make regular exercise a part of your life.

You will also have to begin a regime of testing your own blood. Your doctor will tell you how often, and when to test yourself. Over time, by doing this, you will learn what affects your blood sugar, and will be able to make better food choices. Illness and stress can have an impact along with what you eat, and even when you eat certain foods. Testing is a good way to understand what is going on in your body.

You should consider a few factors when you are buying a new meter. Do you need a larger display? Will you be taking it out of the house often (consider size)? Do you want the most basic meter which will display your results and keep a limited history, or would you rather have one that synchs up with your computer. Some meters also offer alternate site testing. This may appeal to you if your fingers are very sensitive, but alternate site testing is also less accurate. One final thing to keep in mind, most meters use specific types of strips. Before making a purchase, you should check with your insurance company to find out which brands they cover.

As a diabetic, it is important to see your doctor regularly. You will very likely be asked to come in four times a year for routine screening of your hemoglobin A1c. This is a blood test which gives a general indication of your blood glucose over the past three months. Your doctor will also want to check your eyes and feet regularly as these are areas of the body where diabetic complications often arise. Your family physician may be sufficient in helping you keep your diabetes under control. Conversely, you may be referred to an endocrinologist and/or a registered dietician. You will also want to schedule regular appointments with an ophthalmologist.

Finally, follow your doctors instructions regarding any prescribed medications. It is possible that you wont feel any differently taking the medication than you did before, but it is helping to keep your blood sugar lower.

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