Don’t Freak Out! 10 Essential Things to Know If You’ve Been Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes

1. Diabetes is Not Your Fault

Don’t blame yourself for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, and don’t let anyone else blame you either! It is not caused by laziness or a lack of willpower. Eating sweets didn’t do it. Type 2 diabetes is a genetic disease with a complex cause.

Certain ethnic and racial groups exhibit a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes compared to others. The increased risk is often a complex interplay of genetic, lifestyle, socioeconomic, and cultural factors.

Some populations consistently shown to be at higher risk include:

• American Indians and Alaska Natives
• Non-Hispanic Black adults
• Hispanic/Latino adults
• Asian Americans
• Pacific Islanders

Your genes and the environment are the major culprits, but that doesn’t mean you are now helpless to protect your health. So read on!

2. Ignoring Diabetes Won’t Make it Go Away

Many people ask, “What does diabetes feel like?” You can’t always feel blood sugars when they are high, so you may think you don’t need to worry about it. But diabetes ignored and left unmanaged can cause damage to your body. 

Yes, odds are good that you can live a long, healthy life with diabetes, but only if you are working to control it now, not sometime later. So see your doctor regularly, take all of your medications, stay active, and learn more about the foods you eat. For your health, get involved in your own diabetes management and care.

3. The Good News Is, This Isn’t Your Grandmother’s Diabetes

With 21st century technology and care, we now know you can live a long and healthy life with diabetes. A type 2 diabetes diagnosis is NOT a death sentence. Terrible outcomes like blindness, amputations, and kidney problems are largely preventable. 

Thanks to modern medicine, people developing diabetes today have an excellent chance of living healthy lives free from serious complications. With good care and attention, you can be one of those people.

4. Show Some Love to Your Heart

Heart disease is a major concern for people with diabetes because they are twice as likely to have heart disease than people without diabetes. However, there are steps you can take to lower your risk for heart problems with diabetes. 

According to scientific studies, the most important areas to address are smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol, A1c, and fitness. Talk to your doctor about your risk and what you can do to lower it.

5. Knowing Your Numbers Should be Your First Step

For diabetes management, there are so many things you will be advised to do and change. No wonder it can feel so overwhelming. 

You can’t do everything at once, so where should you start? Begin by making sure the critical diabetes tests are being done and that you, not just your doctor, know the results.

After all, you can’t know what to do differently if you don’t first know how you’re doing. At the very least, find out about your blood pressure, cholesterol, and A1c numbers. You need to know what your numbers mean and what you and your doctor can do to get, or keep, those numbers in a safe range.

Check out the videos below for more information:

• What Should My Target Blood Pressure Be?
• What’s an A1c and Why Is It Important?
• What the Heck is a Lipid Panel?

Goals for each test will vary for everyone individually and will depend on your current health and your health history, so be sure to discuss your results and your personal goals with your healthcare provider.

6. Get on a Diabetes Warranty Program

Just like you take your car in for regular tune-ups, we recommend you include the following as part of your regular diabetes health maintenance program:

• Have an A1c test at least twice a year to measure your average blood sugar levels over the previous 2-3 months. The A1c goal for most diabetics is less than 7%, but talk to your doctor because individual diabetes management goals can vary. 
• Get a yearly dilated eye exam from an eye specialist who is knowledgeable about diabetic eye disease.
• Get a yearly kidney function test.
• Keep a close eye on your feet, especially if you have diabetic neuropathy or a lack of sensation, and have your provider inspect them at least once a year (more if you have neuropathy).
• Have your blood pressure checked every time you see your provider, and your cholesterol checked annually (more frequently if your levels are high).
• See your dentist twice per year for regular cleanings and prevent tooth and gum disease by brushing and flossing every day, not just one week before you go to the dentist!

7. No, You Won’t Be Limited to Eating Nuts, Twigs, and Birdseed!

You can still eat your favorite foods, just not all at once. Boring diabetic diets are no longer necessary, and there is no need to deprive yourself. However, attention to the size of your meals is critical. 

You will also need to learn more about the contents of the food you typically eat (carbs, fat, and calories), which foods you should eat more or less of, and how those foods affect your blood glucose and overall health.

8. Not Taking Your Prescribed Medications Is a Dangerous Thing to Do

From the first day of a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, most people require medications to keep diabetes in check and maintain good health. Many people worry that taking medications might be bad for their health as well as too costly. 

Yes, there are diabetes medications that have negative side effects, but these are typically outweighed by the positive benefits to your long-term health. To stay healthy, your goal shouldn’t be to take fewer medications, but to make sure your numbers (A1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol) are in a safe range. Talk about the pros and cons of medications with your doctor. Then you can make an informed decision.

9. Focus on Developing a Healthier Lifestyle, Not Weight Loss

Increasing your fitness and choosing healthier foods (for example, more fruits and vegetables, smaller portions, and less saturated fats) will have a bigger impact on your diabetes and heart health than losing weight. 

This is good news, since weight loss can be frustrating and difficult. Of course, exercising more and making smarter food choices may lead to a lower weight over time. But keep the focus on improving your health, not just improving your weight.

10. Don’t Do Diabetes Alone

Life with diabetes is just easier when you have people in your life cheering you on. Good diabetes management takes attention and effort, and you may at times feel overwhelmed, discouraged, isolated, or even burned out. Your motivation can be sapped by the stresses of daily life or even problems with depression, which are common in people with diabetes. 

To protect yourself, make sure you identify at least one person in your life who will support you and your diabetes management efforts. It could be anyone: a family member, good friend, trusted healthcare professional, or support group. 

Also, find a doctor you really trust, can be honest with, and feel is on your side. Living well with diabetes is always easier when someone you like and respect is cheering for you.