Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Medical follow-up
• Method 2 of 3: Lifestyle changes
• Method 3 of 3: Eating Well
• Tips
• Warnings

If you've been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, chances are you are feeling overwhelmed. Fortunately, there are many ways to deal with illness. Appropriate treatment and lifestyle changes can often help stop the development of type 2 diabetes.First of all, you should carefully monitor your health, lead a healthy lifestyle and eat right. All of these will help you maintain normal blood sugar levels and keep you healthy.

Attention:the information in this article is for informational purposes only. Before using any methods, consult your doctor.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Medical follow-up

1. 1 Get regular medical check-ups. With type 2 diabetes, you can lead a healthy lifestyle, one of the essential elements of which is regular visits to the doctor. However, lack of proper control can ultimately lead to serious health problems and cause damage to nerves, kidneys, blood vessels and eyes. In view of this, you need to closely monitor your health after you are diagnosed with diabetes. Talk to your doctor and schedule regular check-ups.
   • In addition to check-ups with your doctor, you may need regular consultations from specialists such as an orthopedist, ophthalmologist, nutritionist, and endocrinologist. Some patients also benefit from regular dental visits to avoid diabetes-related oral diseases.
   • If you find it difficult to cope with the stress caused by the illness, consider seeking help from a psychologist.
   • In addition to monitoring physiological parameters under the supervision of a local therapist, you will need to regularly visit an endocrinologist (specialist in diabetes and other endocrine diseases).
2. 2 Regularly check your blood glucose (sugar) levels. After you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, your blood sugar should be checked. It is best to do this every morning at the same time before meals. Apply a drop of blood to the test strip and then place it in the meter to get an accurate reading. This will allow you to assess whether your body is maintaining proper blood sugar levels or if you need to take insulin.
   • Checking insulin levels requires a blood glucose meter, test strip, and skin lancing device. Ask your doctor to recommend the right meter for you.
   • For most patients, one pre-breakfast check is sufficient. However, if your diabetes symptoms worsen, you may need to check your blood sugar several times throughout the day.
   • Talk to your doctor about an appropriate blood sugar test regimen.
3. 3 If necessary get insulin injections. For type 2 diabetes, you may be given insulin injections. Your healthcare professional will tell you when and how to get insulin injections. Since the correct dosage depends on your blood sugar level, your doctor will provide you with a scale that will help you determine how much insulin to give based on your glucose test results.
   • There are several ways to administer insulin. You can use a syringe, insulin pen, or insulin pump, which is usually used as a last resort.
   • Insulin can be injected into the abdomen, arm, or thigh.
   • The insulin injection regimen will depend on whether you are injecting long-acting or short-acting insulin. Long-acting insulin is usually given 1-2 times a day at the same time, and short-acting insulin is given shortly before meals. These types of insulin can be combined.
   • For insulin preparation to remain stable and effective, it must be stored in the refrigerator. Observe the instructions for storage and use on the packaging and always check the expiration date.
   • If you are going to be away from home for a long time or attending an event where you will consume a lot of food and alcohol, bring along a supply of short-acting insulin and a blood glucose monitor.
4. 4 Remember to measure and adjust your blood sugar before bed. You need to know your blood sugar level just before bed in order to assess it over the coming night. Talk to your doctor about what your blood sugar should be before bed and find out how you can safely regulate it with insulin or a light meal.
   • Often, problems with blood sugar levels occur after fasting, such as after a night's sleep. However, there are ways that you can adjust your blood sugar for these periods.
5. 5 Talk with your doctor about how to manage low blood sugar. With diabetes, there is a risk that your blood sugar may become too low (a condition called hypoglycemia). In most people, hypoglycemia occurs when the sugar content drops below 3.9 mmol / L. For hypoglycemia, take a glucose tablet, drink some fruit juice, or eat candy. Then wait 15 minutes and measure your blood sugar. Repeat until the sugar content is over 3.9 mmol / L, then have a light snack or snack.
   • Common symptoms of hypoglycemia include fatigue, irritability, anxiety, agitation, irregular heartbeat, pale skin, intense sweating, and hunger.
   • Severe hypoglycemia can lead to blurred consciousness, abnormal behavior, impaired vision, seizures, and loss of consciousness.
   • Hypoglycemia can occur due to skipping meals, a lack of carbohydrates in the diet, or physical activity without sufficient nutrition before them.
   • If you are unable to cope with hypoglycemia on your own or are experiencing severe symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
6. 6 Take your medications as prescribed by your doctor. In addition to insulin, you may be prescribed other medications to help maintain your blood glucose levels. You must constantly accept them. Do not skip your medication and consult your doctor if you have any problems. For type 2 diabetes, the following medications are often prescribed:
   • drugs that stimulate the production of insulin by the pancreas, such as Glibenclamide;
   • Metformin, which prevents the liver from producing glucose;
   • repaglinide (NovoNorm) and gliclazide (Diabeton), which cause the pancreas to secrete insulin during meals;
   • rosiglitazone potassium lowers blood glucose and improves insulin sensitivity;
   • drugs that restore the balance of hormones that control glucose levels, such as sitagliptin (Januvia) and linagliptin (Trajenta);
   • inhibitors of sodium glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT2), such as canagliflozin (Invokana) and ertugliflozin (Steglatro), help the kidneys filter glucose from the bloodstream;
   • drugs such as acarbose (Glucobay) and miglitol (Diastabol) slow down the digestion of carbohydrates and prevent blood sugar from rising too quickly;
   • drugs to lower bad cholesterol, such as cholestyramine (Questran), can also help control blood sugar.

Method 2 of 3: Lifestyle changes

1. 1 Exercise regularly. Exercise is extremely important for maintaining health in type 2 diabetes. They help lower blood sugar, strengthen the heart and lower blood pressure, and increase the effectiveness of insulin. In fact, in mild forms of type 2 diabetes, exercise can be a key factor in avoiding insulin injections.
   • Try to walk for at least 20-30 minutes most days of the week. You can break this time into 2-3 walks, 10-15 minutes each.
   • Physical activities such as dancing, gardening, running, cycling and swimming can also help control glucose levels.
2. 2 Reduce your stress levels. In type 2 diabetes, severe stress can cause problems as it increases blood sugar and blood pressure and increases the risk of heart disease. To lower your stress levels, try to do more things that bring you pleasure and joy. Taking some time to relax your mind and body can have a huge beneficial effect on your health.
   • For example, do what you enjoy and relax every day. It doesn't take long: 15 minutes of playing with your dog or tending flowers in the garden is enough to significantly reduce overall stress levels.
   • Remember to take some time each day to relax physically. Breathing deeply and slowly, relaxing and flexing your muscles can significantly reduce stress levels.
3. 3 Get enough sleep. Sleep for 7-9 hours every night so that your nerves and other body systems have time to recover. This will help alleviate the symptoms of diabetes, such as lowering blood sugar and blood pressure.
   • If you find it difficult to fall asleep, try some common methods, such as creating a suitable environment in your bedroom and preparing your mind and body for sleep in advance.
   • If you are going to take any sleeping pills, consult your doctor first. You should discuss new drugs with your doctor to make sure they won't interact with your diabetes medications.
4. 4 Control your weight. Maintaining a healthy weight will have a positive effect on blood sugar, blood pressure, heart health, cholesterol and other health indicators. If you are overweight, talk to your doctor about how to lose weight in a safe and healthy way. Maintaining a healthy weight is easiest with a combination of proper nutrition and exercise.
   • Your specific healthy weight depends on your body fat percentage, general health, and metabolic rate. Talk to your doctor about your normal weight. Consider your body mass index and other factors when doing this.
   • Discuss the weight loss programs you are considering with your doctor or dietitian. They will help you tailor the program to suit your needs and accommodate type 2 diabetes.
   • After you have worked out a healthy weight range with your doctor or dietitian, weigh yourself at least once a week to make sure you are approaching or successfully maintaining your target weight.

Method 3 of 3: Eating Well

1. 1 Follow the meal plan recommended by your doctor or dietitian. Once you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you need to figure out what you can eat and what you should refrain from. Talk to your doctor or dietitian to understand the basic rules you should follow in the future.
   • If you would like to know more, ask your doctor or dietitian for recommendations on trustworthy books or websites where you can find more information about type 2 diabetes.
2. 2 Limit the amount of food you eat at each meal. One important way to keep your blood sugar in check and prevent spikes is to limit portion sizes. It is better to eat more and smaller meals throughout the day rather than eating several heavy meals, which will make it easier for your body to maintain normal blood glucose levels.
   • It is especially important not to eat too much of one type of food. A balanced diet also helps maintain normal glucose levels.
   • To avoid overeating, you need to understand what the normal serving size is for each type of food. Discuss this issue with your dietitian.
   • The dietary needs of individuals vary according to their age, weight, general health, and level of physical activity. Talk to your doctor or dietitian about how much food you need each day.
3. 3 Eat complex carbohydrates, not simple ones. You may have already noticed that a slice of white bread tastes sweet if you hold it in your mouth for a while. This is because carbohydrates are converted into sugar in the body. Eating large amounts of simple carbohydrates, such as those found in white bread, can spike blood glucose levels. Complex carbohydrates, such as foods made from whole grains, take much longer to break down in the body. They are an important source of energy, so try to avoid simple carbohydrates and consume complex ones in moderation.
   • For type 2 diabetes, foods with complex carbohydrates such as oatmeal, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, barley, bulgur, quinoa, and peeled white potatoes can be eaten in moderation.
   • Avoid white flour, regular pasta, couscous, white rice, and other sources of refined carbohydrates.
4. 4 Monitor your carbohydrate intake throughout the day. You should not only give preference to complex carbohydrates, but also consume approximately the same amount with each meal. Your dietitian or doctor should tell you how much carbs you should eat each day, and this amount should be spread across all meals.
   • Many diabetic diets are designed with three main meals and three small snacks throughout the day, with some healthy carbohydrates each time.
   • Do not consume all carbohydrates in one meal, even if they are complex, as this can cause a rise in blood sugar levels.
5. 5 Use a table of glycemic index (GI) foods. To choose foods that won't cause unnecessary spikes in blood sugar, check the glycemic indexes of the foods you intend to consume. GI refers to the amount of pure sugar that is quickly released into the bloodstream after you consume a particular food. The glycemic indexes of many foods can be found on the Internet. Find a pivot table or search for the product you are interested in and add the words "glycemic index".
   • A low GI is less than 55, a moderate GI is 56–69, and a high GI is more than 70. Consult your doctor or dietitian about the appropriate GI interval for you.
   • For example, many breakfast cereals (corn flakes have a GI of 81), white bread (75), raw watermelon (76), instant mashed potatoes (87) have a high glycemic index.
   • Low GI values ​​are found in whole grain pasta (48), raw apples (36), boiled carrots (39), and lentils (32).
   • Avoiding high GI foods does not mean that you should completely avoid treats - they can be consumed from time to time. For example, dark chocolate has a low GI (around 40).
6. 6 Eat slower. Get in the habit of eating slowly - this will help you avoid overeating. To take your time, try counting to 10 each time you chew on another bite, or eat in smaller bites. This will help you feel full on time, even if you eat less than usual.

Tips

• Count on incremental change, not immediate results. With type 2 diabetes, you should gradually change your lifestyle and diet rather than changing everything all at once. Better to set achievable goals for yourself and keep moving towards the intended results.
• It is possible to have diabetes for many years before being diagnosed. It is necessary to undergo a medical examination once a year or six months in order to detect possible diabetes in time.

Warnings

• If you have a family history of diabetes, you need to monitor your diet and exercise regularly to prevent or delay the disease.
• Excessive alcohol consumption can negatively affect the body's ability to maintain normal blood sugar levels, sometimes leading to dangerous conditions such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). If you are unable to give up alcohol completely, talk to your doctor about how to drink it safely. Always follow the measure and be sure to consume alcohol with food.