Once you are diagnosed, you can start taking steps to get your health
under control and avoid serious complications. Take charge of the
situation by learning as much as you can about the disease and its management.
What you do next will depend on what stage of type 2 diabetes you
are in. In the early stages, or with prediabetes, you may be able to
control your blood sugar with a healthier diet
and more exercise.
However, type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease, so most people will
need to be prescribed medication at some point to keep their sugar
levels in a healthy range1.
Aside from managing the physical aspects of diabetes, it is also
important to be aware of the effects of diabetes on your emotional
health. Tackling type 2 diabetes head-on can be stressful and
overwhelming, and ignoring these negative feelings can make the
physical and emotional problems worse. Emotional well-being and
physical health are closely connected in diabetes, so it is vital that
you take care of both2.
-
Depression/Anxiety It's normal to feel low occasionally, but
persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness need to be addressed
as they can prevent good diabetes self-care2
-
Stress Stress causes your blood sugar levels to rise as your
body releases stored glucose supplies into your bloodstream in
preparation for 'fight or flight'3
-
Sleep problems Poor sleeping habits and not getting enough
sleep can also negatively impact your blood sugar
levels2
Getting the support you need from your healthcare team, family and
friends is a critical part of managing your diabetes. Remember,
reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign that you
are proactively taking control of type 2 diabetes.
Stress is extremely common when you have type 2 diabetes, but you can
do something about it3. Meet Ken, who is living with type 2
diabetes. After making the connection between stress and his blood
sugar numbers, Ken learned to reduce his stress levels in order to
improve his blood sugar control and overall health.
