Type 2 Diabetes: Living With the Disease-Treatment Overview

Type 2 Diabetes: Living With the Disease - Treatment Overview

Your treatment for type 2 diabetes will change over time to meet your needs. But the focus of your treatment will always be to keep your blood sugar levels within your target range. That will help prevent complications from diabetes, such as eye, kidney, heart, blood vessel, and nerve disease.

To help you stay on track with your treatment, you'll need regular tests. For more information, see the Exams and Tests section of this topic.

You play an important role in managing your condition. By learning about diabetes and working with your doctor to create a plan for treatment, you can improve your health and quality of life.

The keys to managing your diabetes are to:

Make healthy food choices. Eat a balanced diet, and try to manage the amount of carbohydrate you eat by spreading it out over the day. For help, see:
Quick Tips: Smart Snacking When You Have Diabetes.
Diabetes: Using a Plate Format for Eating.
Diabetes: Counting Carbs if You Don't Use Insulin.
Diabetes: Eating a Low Glycemic Diet.
Be active. Walking is a great way to get started. See:
Quick Tips: Getting Active at Home.
Fitness: Adding More Activity to Your Life.
Fitness: Walking for Wellness.
Test your blood sugar. Everything in your life affects your blood sugar levels, from what you eat, to how stressed you feel, to how much activity you get. That's why testing your blood sugar regularly is so important. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that you keep your blood sugar levels at:
- 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) to 130 mg/dL before meals, when using a fingertip blood test.
- Less than 180 mg/dL 1 to 2 hours after meals, using the fingertip test. For help, see:
Diabetes: Checking Your Blood Sugar.
Diabetes: Preventing High Blood Sugar Emergencies.
Keep high blood pressure and high cholesterol under control. Losing weight and getting plenty of exercise, such as walking at least 2½ hours a week, can help lower blood pressure. But you may also need to take medicines, such as an ACE inhibitor or beta-blocker, to achieve your goal.¹ You may also need to take cholesterol-lowering medicines called statins. See:
Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) for High Cholesterol.
High Blood Pressure: Checking Your Blood Pressure at Home.
Take medicines, such as metformin (Glucophage) or insulin, if you need them. If you're taking diabetes medicine or insulin, you will need to know how to deal with low blood sugar and how to give yourself an insulin shot. For more information, see the Medications section of this topic and:
Diabetes: Dealing With Low Blood Sugar From Medicines.
Diabetes: Dealing With Low Blood Sugar From Insulin.
Diabetes: Giving Yourself an Insulin Shot.
Quit smoking , if you smoke. Quitting smoking can help you reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Answer:

Your level is currently NormalHigh (hyperglycemia).Low (hypoglycemia).

If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.

People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

Your blood sugar level is slightly high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.

However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.

Your level is currently normal. However, if you are concerned about diabetes speak with your physician. There may be other risk factors that increase your risk for diabetes.

Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.

Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.

One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.

Your blood sugar level may be high, depending on when you last ate. If you have not eaten for at least 8 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 100. If you've eaten within the last 2 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 140. You should call your health care provider and ask if you need laboratory tests to check for diabetes. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

Blood sugars consistently above 180 warrant prompt medical attention.

Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.

One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.

Your blood sugar level is high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

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