Living 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.

Risk factors include being over 40, overweight, physically inactive, having high cholesterol, having high blood pressure, and for women, having had gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Also certain ethnicities are more likely to develop diabetes. If you are Latin, Asian, African American, Native American, or a Pacific Islander, you are more likely to develop the condition. Family history also plays a role.

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.

You might feel devastated by the initial diagnosis of diabetes. For many people it represents some sort of failure. But there is also a silver lining. If you are diabetic, the things your doctor will recommend that you do ” lose weight, exercise more, eat less fat and salt, eat more fruits and vegetables ” these things are the things we should all be doing to live a healthier lifestyle. You have a better reason than most to make those changes.

Living successfully with diabetes hinges on lifestyle changes. Over time, it is likely that you will need to take medication, or even insulin. However, when people are first diagnosed, unless they have unknowingly had diabetes for years, they are typically told to lose weight, eat a more healthy diet, and engage in physical activity on a daily basis. Losing weight has been shown to have a positive impact on blood glucose.

Exercising regularly is a good habit to get into. Exercise increases the bodys response to insulin. Insulin helps to maintain proper blood glucose levels. It is sometimes possible to reverse diabetes with diet and exercise. Even if you are not able to achieve that goal, there are still significant advantages to beginning or maintaining an exercise regime.

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, make sure to follow your doctors orders regarding any medications you might be prescribed. You may not feel any different taking the medication, but it is helping to keep your blood sugar lower, and that is your ultimate goal.

Stephen Almansen, who has been writing about diabetes for over thirty years, has written a guide which explains how to get diabetic diet food home delivery service, delivered to your home or office. You can obtain this guide, along with other practical information regarding diabetes medical supplies at his site.