Disease Management in Type 2 Diabetes!

There is no specific diet for diabetics but controlling your intake of sugar and having a high fibre diet can help keep blood sugar from fluctuating. It is also good to lower your intake of meats, carbohydrates and instead focus on low glycemic index foods. Glycemic index refers to how quickly the food causes an increase in blood sugar levels. It is also better for diabetics to have small meals at frequent intervals instead of large, heavy meals with large gaps between them.

Diabetes is closely linked to hypertension and obesity. Thus regular exercise can help control the blood sugar fluctuations and also help patients manage their weight. It also helps reduce the amount of glucose in the person s blood as muscles use glucose without insulin while exercising. In cases of insulin resistance, exercising can also help your body use glucose more effectively and hence reduce insulin resistance. In addition, it also helps lower blood pressure, cholesterol and risks of heart disease while strengthening your bones, producing more energy, improving mood swings and managing stress more effectively.

Self-testing blood sugar levels is an important tool in managing diabetes. The exact number of times you need to check your blood sugar varies from person to person but for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, doctors typically advise patients to check their sugar levels a minimum or 3-4 times a day. For type 2 diabetes patients this is usually recommended before meals and before sleeping. Patients with type 1 diabetes may be additionally required to check their blood sugar levels before and after exercising as well.

Many type 2 diabetes patients are obese. In such cases, surgery may be helpful in regulating blood sugar levels and weight reduction. These types of weight loss surgery include bariatric surgery, gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, Biliopancreatic diversion and implanting an adjustable gastric band. To be a good candidate for such surgery, a patient should have a BMI higher than 35 and find it difficult to lose weight despite diet changes and exercise.