After+the+Diagnosis

= After the Diagnosis =

__Treatments and Medication__
Treatment for type 2 diabetes requires a lifelong commitment to: Depending on your treatment plan, you may check and record your blood sugar level once a day or several times a week. Careful monitoring is the only way to make sure that your blood sugar level remains within your target range. Contrary to popular perception, there's no diabetes diet. You won't be restricted to a lifetime of boring, bland foods. Instead, you'll need plenty of; **FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND WHOLE GRAINS**. These foods are high in nutrition and low in fat and calories. You'll also need to eat fewer animal products and sweets. Check out the food guild. Everyone needs regular aerobic exercise, and people who have type 2 diabetes are no exception. Get your doctor's OK before you start an exercise program. Then choose activities you enjoy, such as walking, swimming or biking. Aim for at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise most days of the week. In fact, a combination of aerobic exercise and strength training is more effective at controlling blood sugar than either exercise on its own. If you haven't been active for a while, start slowly and build up gradually. Remember that physical activity lowers blood sugar. Check your blood sugar level before any activity. You might need to eat a snack before exercising to help prevent low blood sugar if you take diabetes medications that lower your blood sugar or insulin. Some people who have type 2 diabetes can manage their blood sugar with diet and exercise alone, but many need diabetes medications or insulin therapy. __Diabetes Medication__ Often, people who are newly diagnosed will be prescribed metformin (Glucophage), a diabetes medication that lowers glucose production in the liver. __Insulin Therapy__ Some people who have type 2 diabetes need insulin therapy as well. Because normal digestion interferes with insulin taken by mouth, insulin must be injected. There are many different types of insulin and some can include rapid-acting insulin, long-acting insulin and intermediate options. Examples include insulin lispro (Humalog), insulin aspart (NovoLog), insulin glargine (Lantus) and insulin detemir (Levemir). (Taken from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/type-2-diabetes/DS00585/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs on February 2, 2010)
 * Blood Sugar Monitoring**
 * Healthy Eating**
 * Regular Exercise**
 * Diabetes Medication or Insulin Therapy**

__Changes to Your Lifestyle__
(Taken from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/type-2-diabetes/DS00585/DSECTION=lifestyle-and-home-remedies on January 30, 2010)
 * Make a commitment to managing your diabetes.** Learn all you can about type 2 diabetes. Make healthy eating and physical activity part of your daily routine.
 * Identify yourself.** Wear a tag or bracelet that says you have diabetes.
 * Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control.** Eating healthy foods and exercising regularly can go a long way toward controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol.
 * Take stress seriously.** If you're stressed, it's easy to abandon your usual diabetes management routine. The hormones your body may produce in response to prolonged stress may prevent insulin from working properly, which only makes matters worse. To take control, set limits. Prioritize your tasks. Learn relaxation techniques. Get plenty of sleep.
 * Schedule a yearly physical exam and regular eye exams.** Your regular diabetes checkups aren't meant to replace yearly physicals or routine eye exams. During the physical, your doctor will look for any diabetes-related complications, as well as screen for other medical problems. Your eye care specialist will check for signs of retinal damage, cataracts and glaucoma.
 * Keep your immunizations up to date.** High blood sugar can weaken your immune system.
 * Take care of your teeth.** Diabetes may leave you prone to gum infections.
 * Pay attention to your feet.** Wash your feet daily in lukewarm water. Dry them gently, especially between the toes, and moisturize with lotion. Check your feet every day for blisters, cuts, sores, redness or swelling. Consult your doctor if you have a sore or other foot problem that isn't healing.
 * If you smoke or use other types of tobacco, ask your doctor to help you quit.** Smoking increases your risk of various diabetes complications, including heart attack, stroke, nerve damage and kidney disease.
 * If you drink alcohol, do so responsibly.** Alcohol, as well as drink mixers, can cause either high or low blood sugar, depending on how much you drink and if you eat at the same time.

__Complications__
Although long-term complications of diabetes develop gradually, they can eventually be disabling or even life-threatening. Some of the potential complications of diabetes include:

(Taken from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/type-2-diabetes/DS00585/DSECTION=complications on February 2, 2010)
 * Heart and blood vessel disease.** Diabetes dramatically increases the risk of various cardiovascular problems, including coronary artery disease with chest pain (angina), heart attack, stroke, narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and high blood pressure.
 * Nerve damage (neuropathy).** Excess sugar can injure the walls of the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that nourish your nerves, especially in the legs.
 * Kidney damage (nephropathy).** The kidneys contain millions of tiny blood vessel clusters that filter waste from your blood. Diabetes can damage this delicate filtering system. Severe damage can lead to kidney failure or irreversible end-stage kidney disease, requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.
 * Eye damage.** Diabetes can damage the blood vessels of the retina (diabetic retinopathy), potentially leading to blindness.
 * Foot damage.** Nerve damage in the feet or poor blood flow to the feet increases the risk of various foot complications. Left untreated, cuts and blisters can become serious infections. Severe damage might require toe, foot or even leg amputation.
 * Skin and mouth conditions.** Diabetes may leave you more susceptible to skin problems, including bacterial and fungal infections.
 * Osteoporosis.** Diabetes may lead to lower than normal bone mineral density, increasing your risk of osteoporosis.
 * Alzheimer's disease.** Type 2 diabetes may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
 * Hearing problems.** Diabetes can also lead to hearing impairment.