What is type 2 diabetes management

Hi there and welcome.

If you want to know more about type 2 diabetes, then you’ve come to the right place.

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or you care for someone who has been, you’ll find valuable information within this video.

We’ll begin by taking you through the basics of type 2 diabetes. Then we’ll discuss why managing blood sugar levels is so important and how this can be done.

Living with type 2 diabetes can feel overwhelming, but remember ­– you’re not alone in this journey. Your healthcare provider will be there to help you along the way.

SECTION 2: UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS

Type 2 diabetes is a condition where your body is either unable to make enough insulin or it cannot properly use the insulin it makes. 

Insulin is an important hormone that helps control the amount of sugar, also known as glucose, in your blood.

Sugar is found in foods that contain carbohydrates. When we eat, our body breaks down our food into blood sugar. Once blood sugar enters our bloodstream, a signal is sent to our pancreas to release insulin. 

Insulin acts as a messenger to help move blood sugar from the bloodstream to different parts of the body, where it can be used for energy. Insulin can also tell the liver to store blood sugar for later use. This helps keep blood sugar in a healthy range – when everything runs smoothly.

For someone with type 2 diabetes, this system doesn’t quite work like it’s supposed to. When the body doesn’t make enough insulin or is unable to use insulin properly, higher than normal amounts of blood sugar build up in the bloodstream. This is called high blood sugar or hyperglycemia.

High blood sugar can be very harmful to blood vessels and, over time, can lead to serious health problems, such as damage to the eyes, nerves and feet.

The heart, kidneys and blood vessels to the brain can also be affected, leading to a higher chance of experiencing heart and kidney disease, including heart attack and stroke.

The risk of heart disease is higher if you have high blood pressure and high cholesterol along with diabetes.

Mood and energy levels can also be affected by changes in blood sugar levels. 

Living with type 2 diabetes can take a toll on your physical and mental health. But don’t be discouraged. There are things you can do to keep your blood sugar levels in check, which can help delay or even prevent these complications.

SECTION 3: MANAGING TYPE 2 DIABETES

Managing type 2 diabetes is not easy, but you won’t be doing it alone. You and your healthcare provider will work together to achieve your best health possible.

You may also have support from family and caregivers to help you in your journey with type 2 diabetes.

Remember – you are in charge of your own health. Which is why you’ll work together with your healthcare provider to create a personalized treatment plan and set goals for your target blood sugar levels.

Your healthcare provider can also offer diabetes-related education and support. They can explain how healthy eating, regular physical activity, stress management, and certain medications can help you achieve and maintain your blood sugar targets.

As with all medications, side effects may occur, and they may not be suitable for everyone.

An important part of managing type 2 diabetes is regularly checking your blood sugar levels, which some people can do at home. This can provide insights into how your daily habits and medications can affect your blood sugar.

It will also help your healthcare provider personalize your treatment plan and goals.

There are various devices to help you check your blood sugar levels at home. Your healthcare provider will help you determine when and how often you should check your levels, and which monitoring device is best for you. 

Aside from at-home blood sugar monitoring, your healthcare provider will also encourage you to have a laboratory blood test called A1C every 2 to 3 months.

A1C is a measurement of your average blood sugar levels. It gives your healthcare provider a bigger picture of your blood sugar levels over time and how your diabetes is being managed. 

Most people with type 2 diabetes will aim for an A1C target of 7% or less. Others may be given a target of 6.5% or less. It will depend on your personal circumstances and treatment goals. 

You’ll work with your healthcare provider to set your personal A1C target and help achieve your goals. 

Your healthcare provider may also order other tests to monitor your overall health, including your cholesterol and kidney function. They will also regularly check your blood pressure and feet, and make sure your eyes and heart stay healthy.  

SECTION 4: FINAL THOUGHTS

While there’s no cure for type 2 diabetes, healthy behaviours and appropriate self-care guided by your healthcare provider can help you manage your blood sugar levels and minimize diabetes-related health problems.

Please contact your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION

Hello and welcome to this video on insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is an important topic that anyone affected by type 2 diabetes should know about – whether you live with the condition yourself or care for someone who does.

That’s because it affects one of the key players in developing type 2 diabetes: insulin.

In this video, we’ll explore what insulin resistance is and how it can impact people with type 2 diabetes. We’ll also review some tips on how you can help combat insulin resistance.

SECTION 2: ABOUT BLOOD SUGAR AND INSULIN RESISTANCE

To understand insulin resistance, you need to understand the role sugar and insulin play in the body.

Sugar, also known as glucose, is the main source of energy used by our bodies.

Our bodies break down the food we eat into blood sugar. When blood sugar enters our bloodstream, the pancreas releases insulin, which is a hormone that helps control the amount of sugar in our blood.

Insulin helps move blood sugar from the bloodstream into the body’s cells, where it can be used for energy or stored for later use. This helps keep blood sugar levels in a healthy range. 

Sometimes the cells in our body stop responding to insulin like they should. This is called insulin resistance. 

The pancreas will make more insulin to try to make the cells respond, but eventually the pancreas is unable to keep up.

When this happens, sugar stays in the blood rather than moving into the cells. This causes high blood sugar levels, also known as hyperglycemia. Over time, this can lead to type 2 diabetes. 

SECTION 3: SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM INSULIN RESISTANCE

Insulin resistance can be short-term or long-term. 

Long-term, or chronic, insulin resistance seems to be caused by two main factors: increased body fat, especially around the belly, and a lack of physical activity. Family history, some genetic conditions and certain medications can also cause insulin resistance.

People living with diabetes usually have some level of insulin-resistant cells already, but it is still possible to also experience short-term insulin resistance. This increases blood sugar levels even more.

Short-term, or temporary, insulin resistance is caused by many other factors – most of which are lifestyle-related. 

These may include: 

• Physical stress, including illness, infection, injury and pain 

• Poor sleep 

• Having a sedentary lifestyle, where too much time is spent sitting 

• Eating high carbohydrate foods or having a highly processed diet 

• Emotional and/or mental stress, like anxiety or depression 

• Stress hormones

• Untreated obstructive sleep apnea 

• Steroid medicines, such as prednisone and dexamethasone 

or

• Hormones made by the body during pregnancy

SECTION 4: MANAGING INSULIN RESISTANCE

It’s important to remember that everyone has unique insulin needs and may have different levels of insulin resistance.

Although many factors can contribute to high blood sugar levels due to insulin resistance, the good news is there are also many things you can do to help. 

Here are a few examples:

• Avoid eating large amounts of carbohydrates at one time. Even one carbohydrate-rich meal can cause insulin to not work well for several hours. 

• Eat more non-starchy vegetables, nuts and legumes, such as lentils, beans and chickpeas 

• Get at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep 

• Avoid eating shortly before bedtime 

• Treat obstructive sleep apnea 

• Practice stress reduction techniques 

• Reduce time spent sitting 

• And increase physical activity with a goal of 150 minutes per week 

You can start by making little changes to daily life, so they feel less daunting. Try walking around your house for 3 to 5 minutes every hour or going for a shorter walk, rather than a longer one. If you prefer cycling, then go for a short bike ride. Small steps can make a big difference.

SECTION 5: FINAL THOUGHTS

Remember, living with type 2 diabetes is a journey, and like any journey it can have many twists and turns. Insulin resistance may be one of them. But you won’t be facing it alone. 

You and your healthcare provider will work together to manage any impact insulin resistance may have on your blood sugar levels.

Talk with your healthcare provider if you have any questions about diabetes or insulin resistance.