Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

The goal of any treatment plan for diabetes, or any other disease, is to stabilize the disease, and work with the patient to help them be successful in managing their disease. This decreases the risk for complications and improves overall health.

Your health care provider and/or Diabetes Educator will give you recommendations for treatment based on your specific needs. This may include:

1) Diet - Consult with a Registered
Dietitian or Nutritionist to help
you with meal planning.
2) Exercise - regular low-impact,
aerobic, exercise at least 3 times
each week.
3) Weight loss - getting down to your
ideal body weight range will go far
in helping to stabilize your blood
sugars and reduce complications.
4) Medication - whether you are taking
oral or injected anti-diabetes
medications, setting up a medication
regime that is both effective and
manageable is important.
5) Monitoring - there are many types of
monitors and your healthcare
provider can help you pick the one
that is best for you.
6) Education - the more you know about
your disease and how to manage it,
the more control you have of your
disease. Get information from a
Diabetes Educator, or use your local
library or the internet.

The American Diabetes Association has a wealth of information to help get in control and stay in control of your disease.

Definition of Type 2 Diabetes

Up to 95% of the people diagnosed with diabetes in the United States have Type 2. Formerly called "adult onset diabetes", and now known as "non-insulin-dependent diabetes," it is also being seen in an increasing rate in children and teenagers in our country.

Type 2 diabetes has several factors that contribute to its etiology, including an underlying insulin resistance, and/or insufficient insulin production to meet the body´s needs. The person with type 2 diabetes does make some of their own insulin -- but their body cannot utilize it properly, or they do not make quite enough.
As a result, blood sugars go up.

According to 1997 ADA guidelines, diabetes can be diagnosed if:

1) a fasting blood sugar(one drawn
without eating for 12 hours prior)
glucose is above 126 mg/dl
2) a nonfasting (casual) sugar of 200
mg/dl or more is drawn and the
person has symptoms of diabetes
3) The person takes an oral glucose
tolerance test (GTT) and a plasma
glucose of 200 mg/dl occurs during
the test

It is important to seek regular medical care and follow your healthcare providers recommendations if you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Risk Factors for Developing Diabetes

Many people know someone who has diabetes. If it is a family-member, you are at increased risk for this genetically-influenced disease. But genetics is not the only factor that puts someone at risk for developing diabetes.

Obesity is a significant factor. Excess body fat impacts glucose metabolism, and can result in ketoacidosis if the body uses the fat as fuel.

Sedentary lifestyle contributes to the development of diabetes, as exercise regulates your metabolism of food fuels, including sugar.

Age is also a factor, with it being more common in after the age of 60.

High cholesterol and blood pressure -- risk factors of heart disease -- are also risk factors for diabetes.

Ethnicity also plays a role in the development of diabetes. If you are an Alaska Native, American Indian, African American, Hispanic/Latino American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander, you are at increased risk -- this plays into genetics.

There are also gender-specific risks, such as having gestational diabetes.

Talk to your doctor to see if you are at risk, and what steps you can take to decrease the chance that you will develop diabetes.