How Well Are You Managing Type 2 Diabetes?
You're getting there.
While you have a good understanding of how to manage your diabetes, there is still room for improvement. Diabetes is a serious condition and if you’re not doing all you can to manage your condition properly, you could end up with life-threatening complications, including cardiovascular problems, and other disorders like eye diseases, neuropathy, and dental decay.
People with type 2 diabetes should work with a primary care physician to closely monitor and control their blood sugar. They should also build a health care team with specialists that include an endocrinologist to help deal with insulin issues, a registered dietitian who can help customize a healthy eating plan, an ophthalmologist to help protect the eyes, a podiatrist to help keep the feet healthy, and a dentist to safeguard against periodontal disease and other infections.
Keep in mind that monitoring your glucose levels daily is really the only way to know if your blood sugar is under control. Talk to your doctor about how many times a day you should check your blood glucose and ask what you should do if your readings are abnormal. You should also always take your diabetes medications and insulin as directed by your physician. If you’re experiencing discomfort from side effects or you have concerns about your treatment plan, don’t hesitate to follow up with your doctor.
A balanced diet and exercise can go a long way in controlling your blood sugar, your weight, and how you feel physically. And it’s never too late to make improvements to your diet or to start an exercise program. Some people find that keeping a food log is helpful for getting a better sense of their eating habits and to identify any unhealthy patterns that may be putting them at risk.
People with type 2 diabetes are prone to dental, foot, eye, and nerve complications, and therefore it’s important to be meticulous about your hygiene and to stay on top of any health issues. Furthermore, anyone with type 2 diabetes who is a smoker should give it up because smoking can exacerbate numerous diabetes complications by raising blood glucose levels, constricting blood vessels, and causing inflammation. Anyone who drinks alcohol should be sure to drink only moderately — that means one serving of alcohol per day if you’re a woman and two servings if you’re a man. But first, you should check with your doctor to make sure it’s safe to drink alcohol at all.
-Joy Bauer, MS, RD, creator of JoyBauer.com
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