Diabetes Management Article

Manage Your Type 2 Diabetes

If you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you need to closely monitor yourself, but take heart that your condition is not as serious as it could be if it were type 1. You have to work to control your blood sugar because your body has a hard time doing it for you, due in part to the amount of insulin produced by your pancreas, and the sweet foods that you eat.

Many patients are able to handle their diabetes through proper diet and a regular exercise routine. There really is no specific diet that is best for diabetes, just try to limit your sugar intake, and eat as many fresh fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole grains as you can. You don’t have to live off of salads for the rest of your life, just pay attention to what is in the food you

For many, changing their lifestyle to include more healthy foods, and physical activity can be the cure, rather than having to take medications from now on. Even if you are required to take medication to help you control your type 2 diabetes, you still have to maintain a healthy diet in order to control your sugar levels. Your physician will probably tell you to test your sugar levels at certain times throughout the day, and keep a journal of the results.

By doing this, you can learn which foods cause your levels to rise, thus learning what not to eat, or to eat only in moderation. Once you learn this, you may not have to test as often, some people that have type 2 diabetes are good at managing their disease and only have to test once a week. Your doctor will let you know how best to handle your treatment.

Expect your levels to be higher for the first couple of hours after you eat, as just about any food, regardless of what it is, will raise your blood sugar level somewhat. You can lower your levels by increasing the amount of exercise you get. If nothing else, just becoming more active around the house, with cleaning, playing with the kids, or working on your landscaping will work to lower those levels too.

If you are currently taking prescription medications for other conditions, you should talk to your doctor, because some prescription medications actually cause blood sugar levels to increase. It may be possible to put you on a different medicine, or alter your dosage to make this more manageable for you.

If you are sick, with a cold or the flu for example, you can also expect your blood sugar levels to be higher. During your body’s natural healing process, hormones rise, which in turn elevate blood sugar. It is a good idea to check your levels more often when you sick, especially if you are running a fever, just to be on the safe side.

It is best to avoid alcohol if you have diabetes, as it does raise the blood sugars significantly. If you do drink on occasion, be certain to keep a close watch on your levels until the effects have completely worn off.

If you weigh more than what is considered ideal for your height and body size, then you need to take steps necessary to lose weight. Sometimes adequate weight loss, diet, and exercise will control your diabetes for you. It is a well known fact that obesity and diabetes go hand in hand, so if you haven’t been diagnosed, but know you are overweight, take steps now to lose those extra pounds before it is too late.