You can control your blood sugar, even if you have type 2 diabetes. Diabetes affects more than 23 million people in the United States. High blood sugar is a life-threatening condition that can cause permanent damage to your body. Learning how to control blood sugars in type 2 diabetes can prevent dangerous spikes in blood sugar, or glucose levels.
Step 1
Review how type 2 diabetes affects your body. Food provides energy to the cells of your body. The pancreas produces insulin, a hormone necessary to convert food into energy. Food causes blood sugars to rise, and insulin helps the cells of the body absorb glucose which then reduces the amount of sugar in the blood. Type 2 diabetes describes a condition where blood sugar cannot reach cells, either because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the cells have become intolerant to blood sugar.
Step 2
Monitor your blood sugar, especially after meals. Use your glucometer on a regular basis to check your glucose levels, and take medications prescribed to reduce blood sugar if your levels are high.
Step 3
Take all medications as directed, especially those prescribed to control blood sugar. Consider using an insulin pump, which delivers more consistent and convenient insulin injections with fewer needle-sticks. Using a pump can result in fewer large swings in blood glucose levels.
Step 4
Respond to symptoms of high or low blood sugars. Dangerous swings in blood sugar levels can result in nerve, kidney or heart damage. Signs and symptoms of high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, include higher sugar levels in blood and urine and increased thirst and frequent urination. Symptoms of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, include shakiness, dizziness, sweating, hunger, headache and difficulty paying attention.
Step 5
Improve your diet. Excess calories and fat increase blood sugar. Eat a variety of nutritious foods in the proper amounts on a regular schedule to stabilize blood glucose levels. Include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, along with whole grains and low-fat dairy products. Avoid saturated and trans fats, and don't eat foods high in cholesterol and salt.
Step 6
Lose weight and increase the amount of exercise you get each week. Experts recommend at least 2.5 hours of moderate exercise each week. Be sure to check your blood sugar before, during and after exercise.
Step 7
Have the A1c test performed. This test reports your average blood glucose levels over the previous three months. An A1c is a valuable tool to monitor the effectiveness of treatment. A newer test, called an eAG or estimated average glucose, also gives an overview of average blood glucose levels in terms that are easier to understand than those given in an A1c.
Things You'll Need
- Glucometer
