Glucose, a type of sugar, and insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, balance each other in the human body. Insulin helps the body use the glucose for energy. When the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to balance the sugar, an excess of glucose builds up in the blood, which can lead to diabetes. Diabetes can cause serious health problems, including death, MayoClinic.com indicates.
Step 1
Eat less sugar. This does not mean to just eliminate candy, cookies, cake and other sugar-heavy foods, but to eat less of other foods as well. Type 2 diabetes generally develops in people who have more body weight than they should. Obesity is one of the most common factors in developing this form of diabetes. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommend several general guidelines for lowering blood sugar levels, including reducing alcohol intake as well as items heavy in sugar, eating frequently but with smaller amounts of food, and decreasing fat intake. The organization also recommends watching carbohydrate intake and increasing consumption of vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Your doctor or a nutritionist can provide you with a recommended diet plan to lower glucose intake.
Step 2
Exercise to help make your body stronger and healthier. FamilyDoctor.org says that through exercise, you can reduce your weight as well as decrease your glucose levels. The organization points out that because heart disease is one of the serious conditions associated with diabetes, exercise can help prevent it as well.
Step 3
Take metformin to help directly lower your glucose levels with a prescription from your doctor. This generic medication works to rid the body of excess glucose. Physicians typically prescribe this drug along with counseling about how to diet and exercise to get blood sugar levels under control. MayoClinic.com, however, points out that metformin eventually will become less effective.
Step 4
Use insulin-boosting medications to help lower blood sugar levels. Most of the medicines prescribed in the treatment of diabetes other than metformin function by acting upon your pancreas, forcing it to raise the level of insulin produced. Many such medications exist such as glyburide, glipizide, rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, sitagliptin and repaglinide. Your doctor may prescribe any of these separately, or in combination with metformin. Even some Type 2 diabetics eventually will need insulin injections to control blood sugar when other forms of medication no longer work effectively.
Things You'll Need
- Lancets
- Blood glucose monitor
