|
|
| Author: Wade Gibson |
If you or a loved one has type 2 diabetes, you're not alone. More than 18 million Americans have type 2 diabetes.
For many people with type 2 diabetes, controlling blood sugar is a struggle every day. In fact, a report issued last year by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) showed that two out of three Americans with type 2 diabetes analyzed in a study were not in control of their blood sugar.
It is important to control blood sugar because it lowers the risk of serious health problems later. Diabetes can cause heart disease, stroke, blindness, loss of limbs and kidney disease.
But now, there's new help to better manage type 2 diabetes. Life and fitness coach Bob Harper of NBC's "The Biggest Loser" and a panel of diabetes experts created easy-to-understand and motivational steps people can take to get their blood sugar down. They are called 6.5 Steps Toward Better Blood Sugar Control. These steps are different because they can fit easily into everyday living.
"Through my years of coaching and training, I've worked with many people with type 2 diabetes and have seen how hard it can be to live with this disease," said Bob Harper. "But I learned that anyone can change their life. It's all about finding the right tools and motivation. I urge people with type 2 diabetes to step it up and use the 6.5 Steps and make them a part of their daily lives."
The 6.5 Steps can help people with type 2 diabetes every day because they focus on the basics of diabetes management: eating healthy, being physically active, monitoring blood sugar and, when appropriate, taking one or more medicines. These all play a part to help lower blood sugar.
Healthy Eating: Healthy eating reduces the risk for complications such as heart disease and stroke. Good choices include many foods, such as vegetables, whole grains, fruits, nonfat dairy products, beans, and lean meats, poultry and fish. There is no one perfect food, but watching portion sizes is key to a healthy diet.
Physical Activity: Regular physical activity can lower blood sugar levels. It can also help manage weight and reduce the risk of developing heart disease and high blood pressure. There are little things people with type 2 diabetes can do every day to be more active, such as walking with a friend or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
Blood Sugar Monitoring: There are two tests for checking blood sugar. One test is the blood sugar monitoring that patients do on their own. It gives people with diabetes a check of their blood sugar level at the time the test is taken. The other one is called the A1C test. The A1C test shows a person's average blood sugar levels over the previous two to three months. Experts say that a good A1C goal is 6.5 percent or less for most people with type 2 diabetes.
Medicines: Most people with type 2 diabetes take medicine to help control their blood sugar levels. Many need more than one medicine to help treat the disease in different ways.
For people with type 2 diabetes, it is important that they team up with their doctor or other health care professional and think of them as a partner. They should work with their health care team to make a plan to get their blood sugar under control. |
Author Bio:
By logging on to www.Bone Health.com, women can join Field in making a commitment to maintain their bone health, a move that may improve their chances of sticking with it. Free materials about osteoporosis and its treatment are available by calling toll-free 877-BoneHealth (877-266-3432) or by accessing www.BoneHealth.com. For Patient Information for Boniva, visit www.boniva.com. |
| You can also reach this article by using: Type 2 Diabetes: How To Step It Up To Get It Down, Medicine & Treatment, Diabetes, diabetes info |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| Before we discuss about mesothelioma treatments it is important to have an understanding of what is ... - Kirsten Hawkins |
| |
| Did you know that most heart attacks come without warning and can kill without you experiencing any ... - Mayur Vibhakar |
| |
|
|
| Can your LDL cholesterol be too low? Cholesterol is a necessary part of surface membranes in your bo ... - Gabe Mirkin, M.D. |
| |
|
More than 18 million Americans suffer from diabetes. But, some may not be aware of the serious damag ... - Wade Gibson |
| |
|
An estimated 230,000 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2005 - enough to fill a ... - Ronald Roberts |
| |
|
This year, according to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 212,920 women in the United States ... - Stacey Moore |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Main Page
