Anita Miles

English 1201-501
November 07, 2015
Controlling Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes is a growing epidemic. More and more people are being
diagnosed every day. There are different types of diabetes such as gestational,
type 1, and type 2 diabetes. However, type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.
Many people have a misconception of diabetes, underestimating the disease because it is so
common. For a person who has diabetes all the standards change from such at daily routines all
the way to pregnancy. It is probably the worst thing in the world and the best thing all at the
same time. It is disease that forces people to become healthy or suffer the consequences. Patients
who are newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are usually given a packet of information to read
and sent on their way. Pondering on the thought of, whats next? Why me? There is so much
confusion, so many questions. After being newly diagnosed many will change their lifestyles
such as the way the diet and exercise, but most will overlook the disease and go back to their
lives without changing a thing. Until it starts to affect them to where they have no choice but to
deal with it. Management is everything when it comes to type 2 diabetes. Not managing diabetes
can cause complications and may even become fatal. It is essential for a patient with type 2
diabetes to successfully manage their diabetes by knowing the education, the lifestyle changes,
and risk factors that comes with type two diabetes, without these three elements diabetes cannot
successfully be managed.
In order to successfully manage any disease, a patient must fully understand what the
disease is and who it affects. Type 2 diabetes affects over two-hundred million people nationally,
and twenty-one million alone in the United States (Judd 484). Diabetes is when the blood has
high sugar levels, and the body stops producing insulin. Insulin is made and released by the

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pancreas in response to controlling elevating glucose levels (Thomas 1). Therefore Type 2
diabetes is when the body still produces insulin but your body does not respond correctly to the
insulin, this is known as insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is when the muscle, liver, and fat
cells stop responding to the insulin, which prevents the blood sugar from being stored as energy
causing sugar build up in the blood known as hyperglycemia (Type 2 Diabetes 1).
There are many factors that put a person a risk for diabetes. Some of the most common
factors that put people at risk for diabetes is age, weight, race, genetics, and high blood pressure.
People who have type 2 diabetes usually have no symptoms of the disease. High glucose levels is
a silent problem, therefore people who have type 2 diabetes usually have had it many years prior
to being diagnosed (Merlin 1). Since people with diabetes rarely have symptoms at all, people
should schedule prevention appointments to get tested at least yearly. There are many different
exams and test that can be performed to see if a patient has diabetes or not. The most common
test for diabetes is a blood test (Type 2 Diabetes 2). The Hemoglobin A1c test is a blood test is
used to determine not only the status of diabetes, but how well a person with diabetes is
controlling their diabetes. The test determines whether a person has normal, pre-diabetes, or
diabetes sugar levels based on a percentage value. After being diagnosed the patient should
continue to the Hemoglobin A1C blood test every 3 months to help monitor their diabetes.
Knowing the basics of diabetes and who it affects is one of the main keys to a patient who has
diabetes. In order to successfully control diabetes the patient has to understand why they have the
disease, and the ways to help correct the problem.
The Next step in controlling the patients type 2 diabetes is creating a healthy lifestyle.
After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes everything changes. Once diagnosed the next step is
finding a way to manage the patients diabetes. Most doctors will prescribe oral medication, only

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relying on insulin shots as a last resort. The patient will also be prescribe a kit to check their
sugars levels at home. Most patients will fail to take their prescribed medication and check their
sugars because they do not want to prick their fingers. Dismissing their diabetes as if they never
had it. However, by self-monitoring blood glucose levels
and taking medication this alone will not manage diabetes.
The patient needs to keep a strict diet. Portion size is goal.
Blood glucose levels rise every time a person eats, therefore
the more a person eats the higher their levels rise (Magee
70).
In addition to portion control, the patient should watch what they consume. For example,
diabetics should avoid foods that have high carbohydrates because they break down into sugar.
People usually think that when a person is diabetic, they became that way from having a sweet
tooth and if that person stops eating sweets, they will be able to manage their diabetes, well that
is a myth. In fact things that are healthy for the average person may not be healthy for the
average diabetic. While fruits may be healthy for the average person, they are not so good for
diabetics because they contain natural sugars. This does not mean a diabetic should stop eating
fruit, and that it is not necessary for them, because it still is necessary. However the diabetic
should just eat fruit in moderation and not as much as the average person. Other than food they
should also watch what they drink. Diabetics should avoid sugar drinks such as juice and soda.
Diabetics should drink plenty of water, and sugar free products. In addition to maintain a healthy
diet the patient should also incorporate some form of daily exercise to help manage their
excessed weight and burn sugar (Shmerling 1). According to the CDC a person with diabetes
should exercise at least 30 minutes a day 5 days a week.

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Despite the importance of controlling type 2 diabetes, not all patients will control their
diabetes. Many people find it a hassle to check their sugars, and take their prescribed
medications. Not managing diabetes can have a negative effect on patients causing them
problems with their daily routine. Some side effects of uncontrolled diabetes are feeling tired or
weak all the time, having trouble concentrating, and it can even get in the way of a good nights
sleep (Merlin 13). Not only does it cause these discomforts but it can also affect your health.
When a person has high levels of glucose for such a long period in other words known as
uncontrolled diabetes it becomes toxic. Life threating complications in relation to the heart,
kidneys, bladder, eyes, nerves and blood vessels may become compromise due to complications
of diabetes (13). When people think uncontrolled diabetes they think high blood sugar, however
that is not always the case. When a person has uncontrolled diabetes its means that their sugars
are at constant battle of either too high or too low, never steady. High sugar may cause a diabetic
to go into a sugar coma, while low blood sugar is fatal; which is why it is important to keep your
sugar levels balanced. One of the most common risk of diabetes is poor circulation. Poor
circulation is when the blood does not flow correctly threw the body. In result diabetics are
instructed to watch their limbs, such as their feet. Since there is poor circulation any open
wombs, such as a scratch may not heal properly and cause gangrene causing amputation on
limbs. In addition to poor circulation another common risk factor is complications with
pregnancy. Every woman who has diabetes is high risk for pregnancy. This means all
pregnancies should be planned to avoid further complications. Women who planned to become
pregnant should have controlled blood glucose levels to avoid miscarriages. According to the
American Diabetes Association a women should be in control of her blood glucose levels for
about 6 months before pregnancy to avoid child birth defects. Once pregnant the doctor will then

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take the soon to be mother off any oral medications and she will be required to take insulin shots
to maintain her sugars during pregnancy. When trying to be in control of type 2 diabetes it is
important to know every risk factor, so the patient can handle each situation with control.
A person who has been diagnosed with type
two diabetes needs to know the importance of
controlling their disease by knowing the education,
the lifestyle changes, and the risks of diabetes in
order to properly control the disease. For a patient
who has type 2 diabetes it is essential that they know the battle their up against. It is important to
know about the background of what diabetes is and how it works. So that the patient knows how
to handle the disease. For example, if the patient knows that diabetes is caused from high sugars,
then they have the common sense to avoid sugars as much as possible. The second step was
changing into a healthy life style. In order to control the disease the person needs to make a
healthy life style by maintaining a diet

that contains a safe

amount of sugars along with a form of

exercise to control

a healthy weight. If a person is diagnosed

and does not

change their old habits, then they will

never obtain the

key to controlling their diabetes. By the

patient not being in

control of their diabetes puts them at serious risk of complications that can be fatal. For a person
with diabetes, it affects almost, if not everything they do from what they eat, how they exercise,
and even pregnancy. The most successful way to be beat the complications of diabetes is to be in
control of diabetes from the beginning.

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Works Cited Page

"Before Pregnancy." American Diabetes Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.
"Diabetes Latest." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 17 June 2015. Web. 19 Oct. 2015.
Judd, Sandra J. "52." Genetic Disorders Sourcebook: Basic Consumer Health Information about
Heritable Disorders, including Disorders Resulting from Abnormalities in Specific
Genes, Such as Hemophilia, Sickle Cell Disease, and Cystic Fibrosis, Chromosomal
Disorders, Such as down Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, and Klinefelter Syndrome, and
Complex Disorders with Environmental and Genetic Components, Such as Alzheimer
Disease, Cancer, Heart Disease, and Obesity; along with Information about the Human
Genome Project, Genetic Testing and Newborn Screening, Gene Therapy and Other
Current Research Initiatives, the Special Needs of Children with Genetic Disorders, a
Glossary of Terms, and a Directory of Resources for Further Help and Information. N.p.:
n.p., n.d. N. pag. Print.

Magee, Elaine. The Good News Eating Plan for Type II Diabetes. New York: John Wiley, 1998.
Print.

Shmerling, Rob. "Sugar's Role in Diabetes." Harvard Medical School Commentaries on Health.
HarvardHealthPublications. Boston: Harvard Health Publications, 2014. Credo
Reference. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.

Thomas, Merlin. Understanding Type 2 Diabetes: Fewer Highs Fewer Lows Better Health.
Wollombi, N.S.W.: Exisle, 2013. Print.

"Type 2 Diabetes." Health Reference Series: Diabetes Sourcebook. Ed. Sandra J. Judd. Detroit:
Omnigraphics, Inc., 2011. Credo Reference. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.