Type 2 Diabetes: Living with the Disease - Frequently Asked Questions

What is it like to live with diabetes?

Managing your blood sugar levels is the most important thing you can do when you are living with diabetes. Eating a balanced diet, reducing caloric intake (helping you lose weight), working closely with a dietician to decide which diet is best for you will help you maintain control over your diabetes. In addition, regular exercise (which can help reduce cholesterol and lower blood pressure), taking all of your medications as directed and checking blood sugar levels also are also part of your daily routine. Your goal should always be to keep your blood sugar levels where you and your doctor determine they need to be. This will help reduce your risk of dealing with other complications of diabetes.

What are high and low blood sugar symptoms?

Those who have poorly controlled diabetes may be subject to suffering with hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Symptoms may be mild to severe and often include increased thirst and urination, warm dry skin, dizziness or weakness, gradual blurring of vision, difficulty waking up and increased weakness. It is critical that if you begin suffering any new symptoms that you check your blood sugar levels and get them as close back to normal as possible as quickly as possible. Low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) symptoms may range from confusion, hunger, headaches, anxiety, irritable feelings, and numbness in the mouth or tongue, trembling or passing out. Treatment will help prevent more serious symptoms (and complications associated with them) from developing.

What are the symptoms of diabetic complications?

Symptoms of complications will vary with the complication but may include chest pain or shortness of breath when exerting yourself (signifying blood vessel complications), pain, numbness or swelling in the feet and hands (which may indicate diabetic neuropathy), double vision may indicate eye nerve complications, wounds that do not heal may indicate interrupted blood supply, floaters or pain in the eye could indicate diabetic retinopathy, bloating, frequent belching and other gastric disorders that occur frequently may indicate Gastroparesis. Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy may include profuse (or significantly reduced) sweating, dizziness when sitting or standing suddenly or hypoglycemia unawareness. Swelling in the feet, legs or other parts of the body may be early signs of diabetic nephropathy.

What increases my risk for diabetic complications?

If you already have other risk factors such as smoking, depression, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, have a family history of diabetic complications, have had diabetes for a long period of time (even if well controlled), or have persistently high blood sugar over time, you are at greater risk for developing other complications.

How does treatment change over the years?

Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes will change as your individual needs change. The focus of your treatment will always be keeping your blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible. Working with your health care professional to create a plan for treating your diabetes will improve your quality of life and help prevent complications associated with Type 2 Diabetes.

What medicines do I need to take?

If you are diabetic and over the age of 30, your doctor may prescribe a low dose aspirin therapy to help prevent heart attacks and stroke, you may take medication that will increase insulin production, or that may decrease insulin resistance.

Other medications may be prescribed that help slow absorption of carbohydrates, insulin, medications to control blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and medications to control proteins in your urine. Working closely with your health care professional will assist in determining the medications that are best suited to your particular treatment plan.