People with type 2 diabetes manage their own life and health. Normal blood sugar levels are important to good health and when it comes to management of type 2, one of the most important facts for you to know is the closer you can keep your blood sugar to normal, the less chance you will have of experiencing any of the major complications of diabetes.

Effective steps to take to stay healthy, to keep your blood sugar levels under control and to stabilize your cholesterol levels and blood pressure, include the following:

1. A healthy eating plan is the basis of control of type 2 diabetes ... what you eat is the main controlling factor.

* follow a low-GI plan ... take time to learn about the glycemic index as this will allow you to level out your blood sugars by replacing high-GI foods with those on a lower scale
* protein foods do not cause your insulin to spike, so to help with weight loss and your sugar levels, combine carbohydrate foods with protein foods, for example potatoes with lean meat, crackers with low-fat cheese
* eating fat with carbohydrates also delays a rise in insulin but will not help with weight loss
* eat approximately the same amount of carbohydrates at each meal to keep your blood sugars steady
* if you are taking insulin you will need to balance out a certain amount of carbohydrates ... your dietitian or health care provider will help you work out your individual carbohydrate to insulin ratio
* by monitoring your own levels you will start noticing which foods cause your blood sugar to spike
* you will also notice which foods you enjoy and how much of certain foods you can eat without adversely affecting these levels

2. Exercise has a major affect on your blood sugar level ... it acts like insulin and burns up your blood sugar. This is one of the reasons it is important to do thirty minutes of physical exercise at least five times a week. Exercise improves insulin sensitivity which means if you exercise on a regular basis, you can reduce the amount of insulin or oral diabetic medications you require.

3. Diabetic drugs work to counteract your body being unable to overcome insulin resistance ... some make your body more responsive to insulin. Others cause your pancreas to release more insulin into your bloodstream or to block your liver from sending extra glucose or sugar into your blood.

4. Being ill causes your blood sugar levels to bounce around ... many people think that if they don't eat they don't need their diabetes medications. Actually illness raises your blood sugars! Why not ask your health care provider to work out a sick-day plan for you ... everyone should have a plan worked out and have the essential equipment and supplies in their cabinet.

It is not always possible to prevent high blood sugars but there is a lot you can do to lower your risk. If it is above normal, you can start taking steps to reduce your chances of being affected by the serious and even life-threatening consequences of type 2 diabetes.

A diagnosis of type 2 diabetes does not have to mean a lifetime of suffering... by keeping your blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible, you can live a long and active life.


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