Solving the Type 2 Diabetes Mystery

After a routine eye exam, your physician notices some retinal damage and tells you it’s time to get tested for Type 2 diabetes. How can your provider know you have diabetes just by checking your eyes?

With Type 2 diabetes, your body does not respond properly to insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps convert sugar in the blood into energy. When you become insulin resistant, sugar builds up in the blood instead of being used by your cells.

To check for diabetes, your physician will perform one or more tests to measure the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. An A1C test provides doctors with insight into your average blood glucose level during a two- or three-month period. A fasting plasma glucose test determines how much glucose is in your blood after fasting for at least eight hours. The oral glucose tolerance test (which is familiar to pregnant women) involves testing glucose levels both before and two hours after you drink a very sweet drink.

Slowly but Surely
Insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes don’t happen overnight. Many people develop diabetes over a number of years, as their body slowly becomes more and more resistant to insulin. As more sugar builds up in the body over time, the amount of damage done gets worse.

Over time, high blood sugar can damage your heart, eyes, kidneys and nerves. The longer your blood sugar is uncontrolled, the worse the damage can get.

Taking Control
The good news is you can prevent complications from diabetes by controlling your blood sugar. Because damage from diabetes can take years, it’s important to make sustainable lifestyle changes. To control your sugar over time, use these tips:

• Get educated. Talk to your physician about resources in your area for diabetes education. Usually covered by insurance, these classes offer comprehensive information about diabetes, preventing problems and glucose control. The more you know, the more you can make smart, healthy choices.
• Make more movement. Regular exercise helps lower your blood sugar without medicine, increases blood flow, and can help burn extra calories and fat. Before changing your exercise routine, talk to your provider.
• Eat smart. Having diabetes doesn’t mean never eating cake or chocolate again. However, a balanced diet is key to good sugar control. Talk to your doctor about how much fat, protein and carbohydrates you should be getting every day.
• Check your sugar. With an at-home glucose monitor, you can know your blood sugar level with just a prick of a finger. Set a testing schedule so you know what’s normal for you and how well your treatment plan is working.
• Manage medications. There are oral pills and injectable insulin available for patients with diabetes who need help controlling their blood sugar.

For more information about Type 2 Diabetes, talk to our diabetic educator at Call863-419-1677. Learn about our diabetes support group here.