Controlling your blood sugar is the most important goal of any type of diabetic on any
kind of treatment. It is essential to feeling healthy and avoiding long-term
complications of Type 2 Diabetes. Some people are able to control their blood
sugar with diet and exercise alone. Others may need to take medications, in
addition to making lifestyle changes. In either case, monitoring your blood
sugar is a key part of your treatment program.
You may need to test your blood
sugar levels only once a day or as little as twice a week. Remember that the
amount of sugar in your blood is constantly changing. Self-monitoring keeps
you on top of the problem and should be done regularly.
Factors
that affect your blood sugar include:
Food. Food raises your blood sugar
level; what and how much you eat, and the time of day, also affect your blood
sugar level.
Exercise
and physical activity. The
more active you are, the lower your blood sugar. Physical activity causes
sugar to be transported to your cells, where it's used for energy.
Medications. The purpose of oral diabetes
medications is to lower your blood sugar. But medications you take for other
conditions may affect glucose levels as well so consult your pharmacist or
physician.
Illness.
The physical stress of a cold or
other illness causes your body to produce hormones that raise your blood
sugar level. Monitor your blood sugar more frequently when ill.
Alcohol. Alcohol drives blood sugar levels
sky high. If you drink make sure you know how your body reacts to it.
Diet. You already
know the foods you like. You need to learn the foods that are good for you
and that your body will tolerate. The easiest way is to consult with a
dietitian at a local hospital or get a book at the library and follow the
guidelines. Your dietitian may recommend developing your meal plan based on
the dietary exchange system, carbohydrate counting or the glycemic index.
Being
consistent and being true to the principles of the diet are key. It doesn't
have to be boring.
Exercise. As with any exercise program always talk to your doctor before you begin. Walking, hiking, jogging, biking, tennis, cross-country skiing and swimming are all good choices for anyone especially diabetics. Combine your aerobic activity with stretching and strength training exercises and remember to start slowly and build up time and intensity.
Healthy weight. Fat
makes your cells more resistant to insulin. But when you lose weight, the
process reverses and your cells become more receptive to insulin. For some
people with type 2 diabetes, weight loss is all that's needed to restore
blood sugar to normal. A modest weight loss of 10 to 20 pounds is often
enough.
Medications.
If diet, exercise and maintaining
a healthy weight aren't enough, you may need medication. Various drugs may be
used to treat Type 2 Diabetes.
Glucose
monitoring. Keep
blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. Eat healthy, exercise
and monitor your blood sugars. Once you learn to measure your blood sugar and
understand how important it is, you'll feel more comfortable with the
procedure and more in control of your disease.
Testing is
crucial because it tells you whether you're keeping your glucose levels in
the range you and your doctor have agreed on. The ideal target range before
meals is 90 to 130 mg/dL, and below 180 mg/dL two hours after meals.
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