Type 2 Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the body becomes resistant to its own insulin. With increased insulin resistance, the body cannot properly process blood glucose, which results in abnormally high blood sugar levels. While there is no cure for Type 2 diabetes, there are effective treatments that help people keep their blood sugar levels under control and live relatively normal lives. Left untreated type 2 diabetes can cause heart disease, neuropathy, kidney failure, limb loss, blindness and other dangerous complications.
Diet Control
Because food turns into blood glucose, proper diet is an effective and important treatment for type 2 diabetes. Carbohydrates turn into sugar in the blood; therefore limiting the amount of carbohydrates is a good way to control the diet. Fiber helps slow down digestion of carbohydrates and therefore slow down the spiking of blood sugar, so each meal or snack should contain fiber. Also, people with type 2 diabetes should limit their fat intake, as saturated fat causes dangerous complications such as heart disease and high blood pressure, and it is also believed that fat adds to insulin resistance. Overall, people with type 2 diabetes should eat a low-carb, high protein, high fiber and low fat diet.
Regular Exercise
Exercise is an important and effective treatment for type 2 diabetes for two reasons. First, exercise helps decrease body fat, and it is believed that fat actually increases insulin resistance. Exercise also helps increase blood flow and decrease blood pressure, which helps stabilize blood glucose levels. Regular exercise for type 2 diabetics leads to less dangerous blood sugar spikes and may eliminate the need for prescribed medications.
