Type 2 Diabetes Treatment

The current treatment protocol for Type 2 diabetes requires a lifelong dedication to the following:

• Regular exercise
• Blood sugar monitoring
• Healthy eating
• Control weight
• Diabetes medication or insulin therapy if needed

These few steps will help keep blood glucose levels very close to normal which can prevent or delay complications.

The monitoring of blood glucose is done by the diabetic, by checking a small drop of blood for glucose content. This regular testing will let you know how well medication, diet, and exercise are working to control your diabetes.

These test results can be used to adjust activity, meals or medications to better keep your blood sugar levels in its appropriate range. Testing regularly provides information for your doctor and will identify high and low blood sugar levels before serious problems can develop.

For testing blood sugar, you will need a glucometer which is a small device that provides a reading of the blood glucose. A testing strip is used to accumulate a very small drop of blood which is attained by pricking your finger with a small needle specially designed and called a lancet.

This strip is then placed in the meter. Results are available within 30 to 45 seconds. Your doctors staff or your diabetes educator will help set up an appropriate testing schedule for you.

Testing is usually done before meals and at bedtime. During illness or stress, more frequent testing may be required. Accurate record keeping of results will be more useful for planning on how to best control your disease.

By monitoring your blood sugar level and the help of your diabetes health team, you will learn how your glucose level changes in reaction to:

Medication

Any medication you take will affect your blood glucose level and often can require changes in your health treatment plan.

Food

How much and what you eat can affect your blood glucose level. Blood glucose is usually highest 1 to 2 hours after eating

Illness

When sick with an illness such as a cold, the human body often produces hormones that can raise your blood glucose level.

Stress

Your body produces different hormones in reaction to any prolonged stress which may stop insulin from functioning correctly.

Alcohol

Alcohol as well as ingredients you use to make a mixed drink can cause either low or high blood sugar. This depends on how often and how much you drink and if you eat while drinking.

Diabetics are very prone to foot problems because of restricted blood flow to blood vessels and nerve damage which causes a decreased ability to fight infections. Blood flow to the feet often becomes compromised and damage to the nerves may cause an injury to the foot to go unnoticed until the infection develops. If left unnoticed or untreated, amputation of the affected foot can ultimately be needed.

To prevent injuries to the feet, diabetics should have a daily routine of checking and caring for the feet as follows:

• Check your feet daily and report changes or sores and signs of infection to your doctor.
• Wash feet each day with warm water and soap and then dry thoroughly.
• Dry skin should be softened with petroleum jelly or any sort of foot lotion.
• Wear comfortable well-fitted shoes.
• Exercise daily for good circulation.
• See a podiatrist (foot doctor) for any problems or to have calluses or corns removed.
• Remove socks and shoes during a visit to the healthcare provider to remind them to examine your feet.
• Stop smoking as smoking worsens blood flow to the feet.

Because of poor blood circulation you need to also learn to take special care of your teeth and gums as well as eye problems. Regular visits to your dentist and eye doctors should be scheduled each year. The poor blood circulation can cause infections of the gums and mouth and can also cause eye problems to develop.

As you can see, a major part of any treatment plan for Type 2 diabetes, is self care. It is important to educate yourself in these areas.