Type 2 Diabetes: Understanding, Living With, and Managing the Disease

This report provides a comprehensive overview of Type 2 Diabetes, a disease characterized by high blood glucose levels. It explores the causes, including lifestyle and genetic factors, and delves into the management strategies essential for controlling the condition. The report highlights the importance of understanding the disease, knowing the 'ABCs' of diabetes (A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol), and adopting a balanced diet and exercise routine. It also emphasizes the significance of stress management, meal planning, and medication adherence in coping with diabetes. Furthermore, the report stresses the need for routine healthcare, including regular check-ups and necessary tests. Overall, the report aims to educate patients on how to live with Type 2 Diabetes, make informed decisions about their health, and improve their quality of life.

Running Head: DIABETES TYPE 2
DIABETES TYPE 2
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Plan
Diabetes refers to a disease that occurs when the level of blood glucose is too high. Blood
glucose is the main basis of vitality and it originates from the diet we take. Insulin is made in the
pancreases and assists glucose from to get into the body. In some case; the body does not make
adequate glucose. There exist three categories of diabetes, including type 1 diabetes, type 2
diabetes, and gestational diabetes (Ley, Hamdy, Mohan, & Hu, 2014). Cure for diabetes is not
yet invented, but diabetes can be coped and controlled. It is vital to take care of yourself if you
are infected with diabetes. Taking care of oneself ensures that a person has increased energy, less
thirsty, and makes the person heal quickly. The person will also have fewer chances of health
problems caused by debates such as heart stroke, kidney problems, and eye problems which can
lead to blindness. There several significant steps that a person can use in the treatment and
management of diabetes (Kahn, Cooper, & Del Prato, 2014). The paper will discuss the type 2
diabetes, different status of diabetes that the patient needs to know, techniques that a patient can
learn to live with diabetes and the routine care that a patient can undertake so that they stay
healthy.
It is challenging for one to become more active and change the kind of foods they eat and
also change their eating habits. A person will find it easier to start with the little changes to get
assistance from the family members, friends, or the healthcare system (Chatterjee, Khunti, &
Davies, 2017). Type 2 diabetes is caused by numerous aspects including lifestyle and genes.
Certain genes may make a person acquire type 2 diabetes. The disease runs in families and is
likely to occur to particular ethnic groups. Type 2 diabetes starts with resistance to insulin
whereby the body tissues, fat cells and liver do no utilize insulin well. The pancreas will then be

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required to make more insulin so keep up with the added demand. With time, the pancreas fails
to provide the increased level and hence the level of glucose rises in the body.
How to Manage Diabetes
Learn About Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes
In this case, the body neither makes nor uses insulin properly. A person might,
therefore, need to take pills to help in controlling diabetes. This is the most common type of
diabetes (Chatterjee, Khunti, & Davies, 2017).
Know your diabetes ABCs
The patient needs to talk to health care management so that they can manage the A1C,
blood pressure, and cholesterol of the patient. The latte can assist in lowering the chances of
having a heart attack (Chatterjee, Khunti, & Davies, 2017).
Diet and Exercise
Diet and exercise are primary component in a successful management of diabetes.
However, it takes commitment. Research shows that continued exercise and balanced diet can
lower the occurrence of diabetes particular for people who have increased chances of getting the
ailment. Aerobic exercises can be obtained through jogging, walking, dancing or swimming
among other activities. Exercises assist in an improved blood lipid control and moods. Exercises
and diet also helps in keeping the blood vessels functioning and also assist in major loss of
weight (Esse, Legrand-Poels, Piette, Scheen, & Paquot, 2014).

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A diabetic person is supposed to take smaller portions of foods or enjoy lesser quantities. The
person should eat healthy foods from all groups that are outlined by the meal plans. The patient
should eat vegetables, fruits, grains, proteins and diary (the one that contains low fat contents)
(Kahn, Cooper, & Del Prato, 2014).
Know How to Live With Diabetes
In most cases, people feel overwhelmed or hungry when living with diabetes.it is
therefore important for the patient to know the steps he or she should take to stay healthy
(Chatterjee, Khunti, & Davies, 2017). However, patient find it hard to stick to the laid plan over
time.it is therefore for the patients to cope up with the following tactics;
Cope With Diabetes
The patient should always learn to live a stress-free life since stress raises the level of
blood sugar. It is important to take a deep breath, take a walk, meditate on your body, and listen
to music if you have diabetes (Esser, Legrand-Poels, Piette, Scheen, & Paquot, 2014). It is also
important to make a diabetes meal plan with the assistance of the healthcare management team.
One should choose foods that have lower quantities of calories and fats. Patients should also eat
foods rich in fiber. A Patient is also advised to take medicines for the treatment of diabetes and
any other health-related problems even if they are not feeling well. If a doctor advises you to
check the blood pressure, it is advisable to do so and keep a record of that (Inzucchi, et al.,
2015).
Get a Routine Care
A patient should visit the healthcare team at least two times a year. The latter will assist
in identifying and treating any problem at an early age. Each time a patient visits the HealthCare
team, it is important for the patient to confirm that he has a blood pressure check, foot check, and

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weight check (Pfeffer, Claggett, Diaz, Køber, & Maggioni, 2015). The patient should also
enquire from doctors the other necessary tests that are required so that he can be examined. It is
also advisable for the patients who have Medicare to check their plans carefully (Ley, Hamdy,
Mohan, & Hu, 2014).
Conclusion
Diabetes is a type of sickness that if properly treated, a person can live long with the
illness. A diabetic person is supposed to learn on how to live with the disease, determine the
kinds of food to take and activities to engage in and also learn the importance of visiting
healthcare management teams as often as possible. The latter will help identify the progress of
the sickness and any other sickness that can affect the patient and help in treating them early.
References
Chatterjee, S., Khunti, K., & Davies, M. J. (2017). Type 2 diabetes. The Lancet, 389(10085),
2239-2251.
Esse, N., Legrand-Poels, S., Piette, J., Scheen, A. J., & Paquot, N. (2014). Inflammation as a link
between obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes research and clinical
practice, 105(2), 141-150.
Esser, N., Legrand-Poels, S., Piette, J., Scheen, A. J., & Paquot, N. (2014). Inflammation as a
link between obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes research and
clinical practice, 101(2), 141-150.

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Inzucchi, S., Richard, M., Bergenstal, E., John, B., Michaela, D., Ele, F., et al. (2015).
Management of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes, 2015: a patient-centered approach:
update to a position statement of the American Diabetes Association and the European
Association for the Study of Diabetes. Diabetes care, 38(1), 140-149.
Kahn, S. E., Cooper, M. E., & Del Prato, S. (2014). Pathophysiology and treatment of type 2
diabetes: perspectives on the past, present, and future. The Lancet, 383(9922), 1068-
1083.
Kohan, D. E., Fioretto, P., Tang, W., Tang, W., & List, J. F. (2014). Long-term study of patients
with type 2 diabetes and moderate renal impairment shows that dapagliflozin reduces
weight and blood pressure but does not improve glycemic control. Kidney international,
85(4), 962-971.
Ley, S. H., Hamdy, O., Mohan, V., & Hu, F. B. (2014). Prevention and management of type 2
diabetes: dietary components and nutritional strategies. The Lancet, 383(9933), 1999-
2007.
Pfeffer, M., Claggett, B., Diaz, R., Køber, L. V., & Maggioni, A. P. (2015). Lixisenatide in
patients with type 2 diabetes and acute coronary syndrome. New England Journal of
Medicine, 373(23), 2247-2257.