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The importance of a type 2 diabetes self management plan.

By: John Richmond

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and accounts for over 90 percent of all cases. This is a disease in which the body does not make or properly use insulin, which is a hormone that helps convert sugar, starches and other foods into energy. Type 2 starts as insulin resistance, which occurs when the cells do not use insulin the way they should. As the body needs more and more insulin, the pancreas usually stops producing it. The cause is not yet known but genetics and environmental factors such as being overweight and having a sedentary lifestyle are believed to play a role. A type 2 diabetes self management plan is a major component of fighting this disease.

Type 2 diabetes self management programs offer knowledge about the disease and educate the patient about how to ward off complications. Diet modification, exercise plans, glucose monitoring, and insulin self-injection are taught in these classes. The patient is taught how to monitor glucose, modify their diets, develop exercise regimens, how to self-inject insulin and much more to aid in the battle with diabetes.

Self-injection of insulin is one of the hardest parts of diabetes self management. An attractive option is the insulin pump. These pumps deliver insulin 24 hours a day through a catheter placed under the skin. The device itself is small, and is worn at the waist. Insulin pumps are convenient because they are easily adjustable as you blood sugar changes and they can be easily removed for swimming, showering or bathing.

The American Diabetes Association has estimated that about 90 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight when they are first diagnosed. Essential to a good type 2 diabetes self management plan are diet, exercise and keeping weight under control.

Control of blood sugar is the key in the avoiding the complications of type 2 diabetes. When those with diabetes can do this, they are more likely to feel better and maintain their health. Two kinds of management devices are used. Blood glucose meters and other diabetes management tests. Glucose meters aid in checking blood sugar at home, school, work, or wherever they may be. Additional urine and blood tests show changes in diabetes management and help signal complications.

Healthy eating, in combination with regular exercise and weight control, is important to manage diabetes. Even though a person has the disease they should still be able to eat the foods they love as long as portions are held to an acceptable level. Eating lots of fruit and vegetables is important to staying healthy. Diabetes self management programs have dietitians who can help shape the food choices for people with diabetes, because what a diabetes patient eats has such a huge impact on the management of the disease.

Exercise is an integral part of type 2 diabetes self management. Besides making you feel better physically and mentally, exercise is essential to managing your weight and lowering your blood sugar. It also lessens your risk of cardiovascular disease, common in people who have diabetes. When exercising, your muscles use sugar for energy. This causes a reduction in blood sugar. The harder you workout, the longer the effect lasts. And, if you have type 2 diabetes, exercise can increase your insulin sensitivity meaning that your body needs less insulin to transport sugar into your cells. Combined with a proper diet, exercise could minimize or completely eliminate the necessity for glucose lowering medication.

Being successful at implementing a type 2 diabetes self management plan is really about adjusting to a new, healthier way of life. Other than having to take daily medication, which we all face anyway as we age, it means taking good care of ourselves. And shouldn't we all be doing that anyway?

Article Source: http://www.articlewheel.com

A good type 2 diabetes self management plan is necessary for controlling type 2 diabetes. The author, John Richmond, has written numerous articles about diabetes and they can be found at www.YourDiabetesInfo.com.

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