Not sure what Type 2 diabetes is? Well to start with, even if you have just been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes,

you have probably been living with it for many years. Often it is not diagnosed until it is found by a routine blood

test, or maybe by a symptom such as a slowly healing infection. The symptoms of Type 2 diabetes can be so

subtle they slip past the radar, pretty much unnoticed in an otherwise healthy person.

Type 2 diabetes is different to Type 1, in that there is plenty of insulin. During the 1950′s medical researchers

discovered insulin resistance and so Type 2 diabetes was born. Insulin resistance is where, although there is

plenty of insulin in the bloodstream, the cells no longer respond to the body’s insulin.

Type 1 generally develops in childhood or in young adults, and occurs when the body’s white blood cells attack

the cells of the pancreas and destroys it’s ability to produce insulin. Therefore very little or no insulin is produced.

In both cases glucose is unable to enter the cells, therefore, in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes blood sugar levels

rise and there is too much sugar in the bloodstream. The key thing is to control these levels and bring them back

as close to normal as possible.

Your diabetes care plan will include learning how to monitor your blood sugar levels each day. Blood sugar

testing is one of the most important self-management tools you can ever have as it allows you to know exactly

where your blood sugar levels are at any given time. This means you will be able to spot problems pretty much

straight away.

Suggested Times to Monitor Your Blood Sugar Levels:

* when you are newly diagnosed
* if you give yourself insulin injections it is ideal to check before every meal and at bedtime
* if you start a new medication
* if you start reducing calories, reducing starches and carbs, you may want to check before and after some

meals to see the effect
* if your blood sugar levels are between 75 to 125mg/dL (4 to 7mmol/L) and you are taking oral medications,

or following a diet and exercise plan, test your blood sugars twice daily
* when you blood sugar levels become stable, your doctor may suggest testing three times a week, rotating

the times around
* if you eat foods not usually in your diet or
* if you exercise, be sure to test your sugar levels then to see if it’s really working

It’s rare for people with Type 2 diabetes to experience low blood sugar reactions, which can include fainting at

unfortunate times, such as while driving. Exceptions to this may include diabetics who are taking hypoglycemic

drugs and particularly those who are taking insulin.

Blood Sugar Levels:

* non-diabetics usually have levels between 80 to 100mg/dL (4 to 5mmol/L)
* diabetic’s blood sugars can bounce around during the day but tend to follow a trend
* illnesses or infections can raise blood sugars
* it’s normal to have up/down swings but if levels are high for long periods, there’s the possibility of

complications
* levels will vary for every diabetic and so will the control… it depends on the age of the diabetic

The American Diabetes Association suggests:

* fasting levels or preprandial (before meals)… 90 to 130mg/dL (5 to 7.2mmol/L)
* two hours postprandial (after eating)… below 180mg/dL (10mmol/L)
* just before bedtime…100 to 140mg/dL (5.6 to 7.8mmol/L)