| Managing Type 2 Diabetes
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By: Roger Thompson
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It
actually accounts for more than 90% of all cases of diabetes.
With this disease the body does not make or properly use
insulin, a hormone that helps convert sugar, starches and other
foods into energy. Eventually a person's body will stop
producing insulin if they have this disease. Unfortunately, it
is not yet known why this happens. However, genetics and
environmental factors do play a role. This is why it is
important to have a self-management plan in order to fight this
disease. There are classes available though that provide
information about type 2 diabetes and teach the skills that are
necessary for avoiding the numerous complications of this
disease. These classes teach the patient how to monitor glucose,
modify their diets, develop exercise regimens, self-inject
insulin and many other necessary things.
There is a range of medications available to help you manage
your diabetes. Because there is a lot of research going into
diabetes, this range is expanding all the time. It is often
helpful to look on diabetes medications as a valuable tool you
can use in your quest to successfully live with diabetes. Just
as sugar or glucose is useful when your blood glucose levels are
low, medication is useful when you come to need it. Sometimes
you may need medications for other things besides your diabetes.
Some medications can affect your blood glucose levels. It pays
to know what these medications are. Sometimes there is an
alternative medication available that will not have the same
effect. Sometimes you may need the medication anyway. But if you
can anticipate the effect they may have on your blood glucose
levels it will allow you to plan to manage this.
Daily insulin injections can be the most difficult part of type
2 diabetes self-management for some people. A good alternative
for this is a medical device that is known as an insulin pump.
This is a small, battery operated pump that is worn on the waist
and has a reservoir that contains insulin, which is
automatically injected into the body by way of a catheter that
is embedded under the skin. The pump is easily detached and
adjusted. About 90% of people who have type 2 diabetes are
overweight. Therefore, exercise and keeping weight under control
are vital. Of course, it is also important to keep blood glucose
under control in order to prevent the other health related
problems that are often related to type 2 diabetes.
Food intake must also be moderated. This does not mean that a
person with the disease cannot continue to eat their favorite
foods. They can do so as long as their portions are controlled.
Of course, the person also needs to eat foods that are high in
nutrition with lots of vegetables and fruit. For this reason you
will find that many programs have dietitians on staff to help
patients develop a plan that works for them. Exercise is also an
important way of helping to control type 2 diabetes. Even light
exercise such as gardening and walking are beneficial to keeping
a person's blood sugar under control. This will also benefit
your cholesterol levels, blood pressure and cardiovascular
health. Developing diabetes has helped some people become
healthier. This is because by sticking to their self-management
plan they are no longer obese, they are also able to enjoy the
many health benefits that go along with exercise and healthy
eating.
About The Author: Roger Thompson advises consumers on jobs in
the health care, hospital and medical sectors for portal
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