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Type 2 Diabetes: Living With the Disease - Topic Overview
Is this topic for you?
This topic is for adults who have had type 2 diabetes for more than a few months. Before reading this topic, you may want to read Type 2 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed.
If this topic does not answer your questions, see:
- Type 2 Diabetes, if you want to learn about type 2 diabetes but do not have the disease.
- Type 2 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed, if you have been told recently that you have type 2 diabetes.
- Type 2 Diabetes in Children, if your child has been diagnosed with this disease.
- Type 2 Diabetes: Living With Complications, if you have eye, kidney, heart, nerve, or blood vessel disease caused by your diabetes.
If you are looking for information about type 1 diabetes, see the topic Type 1 Diabetes.
What is diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong
disease that develops when the
pancreas
cannot produce enough
insulin or when the body's tissues become
resistant to insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps
the body’s cells use sugar (glucose) for energy. It also helps the body store
extra sugar in muscle, fat, and liver cells.
How can you manage diabetes?
You play a major role in managing your diabetes. The most important thing is to control your blood sugar. To do this:
- Eat a balanced diet. If you are overweight, reduce your calorie intake to lose some weight. Losing as little as 10 to 20 pounds can improve your blood sugar levels. There are many ways to manage how much and when you eat. Your doctor, a diabetes educator, or a dietitian can help you find a plan that works for you.
- Exercise regularly. Try to do moderate activity at least 2½ hours a week. One way to do this is to be active 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week. Exercise helps control your blood sugar by using glucose for energy during and after activity. It also helps you stay at a healthy weight; lower high cholesterol; raise HDL, or "good," cholesterol; and lower high blood pressure.
- Take your medicine or insulin as directed, if prescribed by your doctor.
- Check your blood sugar levels regularly, as advised by your doctor.
The goal is to keep your blood sugar in a target range. You and your doctor may decide to keep your blood sugar as close to normal as possible. This is called tight control. It’s the best way to reduce your chance of having more problems from diabetes. These are called complications.
Taking care of your diabetes takes time and energy every day. But it will help you feel better and may prevent, or at least delay, complications.
How can you deal with high and low blood sugar?
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Type 2 Diabetes: Living With the Disease Topics
Indication
Uroxatral® (alfuzosin HCl 10 mg extended-release tablets) is an alpha1-blocker for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of BPH.
Important Safety Information
Do not take UROXATRAL if you have liver problems or if you are taking antifungal drugs like ketoconazole or itraconazole, or HIV drugs like ritonavir.
UROXATRAL can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially when starting treatment. This may lead to fainting, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do any dangerous activity until you know how UROXATRAL will affect you. This is especially important if you already have a problem with low blood pressure or take medicines to treat high blood pressure. There may be an increased risk of low blood pressure and fainting when taking UROXATRAL in combination with blood pressure medication or nitrates, or erectile dysfunction medication.
If considering cataract surgery (clouding of the eyes), tell your eye surgeon that you are currently taking UROXATRAL or have previously been treated with an alpha-blocker.
Before taking UROXATRAL, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems.
Also, tell your doctor if you or any family member(s) have or take medications for a rare heart condition known as congenital prolongation of the QT interval.
BPH and prostate cancer can cause the same symptoms. However, UROXATRAL is not a treatment for prostate cancer.
The most common side effects with UROXATRAL are dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and tiredness.
Please see UROXATRAL full prescribing information.
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