Many people are surprised to learn that they have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. However, it should not come as a shock to most people, because an estimate 10% of the American population now suffer from it. It has been called by many a “disease of the modern western lifestyle”, and is officially considered an epidemic by the CDC. These numbers will continue to climb year after year until we better educate the population about the causes and ramifications of this problem.
If you have been told you have this condition, you are probably wondering what steps go into managing type 2 diabetes, while maintaining a relatively normal lifestyle. Since each person will have unique circumstances, it is essential that you work closely with your doctor to come up with a game plan to get this condition under control.
For those with more severe cases of diabetes, the doctor my try to manage it with medication. Diabetes is caused by two different problems with the hormone insulin. Insulin’s job is to take the glucose in your blood, and transport it into the cells so they can use it for energy.
For some people, their pancreas does not produce enough of this hormone, leaving an excess of glucose in the blood stream. In this case, insulin shots may be prescribed. You will likely have to test your insulin levels throughout the day to determine when to take this shots.
Another way that insulin can cause a problem is when you develop a condition called insulin resistance. This resistance is thought to be caused by years of spiking your insulin levels dramatically by eating highly refined carbohydrates. Your body produces enough insulin, but the cells are now less receptive to it, also leaving high levels of glucose in the blood stream. In this case a doctor may prescribe a pill that helps regulate the uptake of glucose into your cells.
While medicine can be very effective at managing type 2 diabetes, they can be very inconvenient and time consuming. You must plan your day around taking shots of pills at specific times, which can be a burden for anyone. The ultimate goal should be to put this condition into remission. This can be done by making some simple lifestyle changes in your eating and exercise habits.
Any successful diabetes management system will involve developing a specific meal plan for the patient. To start off it will be likely that these plans will be very specific, as what you eat directly impacts your blood sugar levels. Your doctor or dietician should educate you on what food choices you should be making on a daily basis. In general you should be moving towards a balanced, whole foods based, diet that looks to eliminate highly refine carbohydrates and bad fats.
Exercise is also incredibly important if you want to be able to manage type 2 diabetes without medicine. Obesity has a huge impact on diabetes risks, so getting in shape will drastically reduce your risks for this condition. Exercising is also a great way to begin the process of reversing insulin resistance. It has been shown that by participating in both cardio and muscle building exercises one can significantly increase sensitivity to insulin.
Being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is not the end of the world, but it should be a wakeup call for turning your poor lifestyle habits around. Managing type 2 diabetes may not be easy, but it will lead to a much longer, healthier, and enjoyable life.
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