|
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.
|
