Type 2 Diabetes: What You Need To Know
Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes does not require insulin to maintain one's blood glucose levels. Typically seen as adult onset diabetes, type 2, or diabetes mellitus, is controlled through diet and exercise changes. People who are overweight seem to be more susceptible to getting type 2 diabetes, though there are ways to prevent this from happening in some cases.
If you've been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or you've been told that you're at a higher risk of getting this disease, you might want to take immediate action to lose weight. Additional weight on your body can hinder the assimilation of insulin from your foods, causing the higher blood glucose levels. Because your body can no metabolize the sugars as easily, they can build up in your body and create the beginning stages of this form of diabetes.
By losing weight in a diabetes treatment program, you may be able to say that you are diabetes-free after a certain period of time. When you lose about 10% of your current weight, you can dramatically improve your body's ability to tolerate glucose. Talk with your doctor first, but if you are at risk or just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, perhaps you can go on a diabetes diet plan first in order to see if that helps manage your diabetic tendency.
For those that are unable to change their diagnosis with weight loss, there is a diabetes diet that you will want to begin. It should include few simple sugars that will build up in your blood and should focus on creating a balanced approach to your eating. Try including whole grains and complex carbohydrates in your diet as well as fruits and vegetables. This will help your body to be able to process the sugars it does take in and balance those sugars with healthier fare. Lean cuts of meat and low fat dairy products are also advised to keep your blood sugar levels stable.
After speaking with your doctor, you will also want to implement an exercise program geared toward diabetes managementblood glucose levels steady, even if you have some sugars. While exercise can not protect you from sugars that you eat, it can certainly help you manage your diabetes and even lost weight in the process.
The key to effective blood glucose management is to find a routine and a diet that works for you and then try to stick to it as much as possible. Your body needs to have a steady stream of good nutritious foods as well as exercise to help it stay healthy and able to metabolize your glucose. If you fail to manage your blood glucose levels, you can encounter such problems as blurred vision, poor circulation, and sores.
Diabetes is something that can be managed, especially when it's type 2 diabetes.