Treatments for Type 2 Diabetes

MEDICAL ANIMATION TRANSCRIPT: You or someone you know may have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This video will show you some ways to help manage it. There are steps you can take that may help you keep your blood glucose, or sugar, within the normal range. This may help you avoid the complications of type 2 diabetes. This may be done through a combination of eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and taking medications as prescribed by your doctor as necessary. Some people may also need to check their blood sugar as directed by their doctor. Eating a healthy diet may help to lower your blood sugar level. You can help do this by eating a diet with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Have meals and snacks about the same time every day. Carbohydrates are substances your body uses to make energy. Eat the right balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. And reduce your intake of high sugar foods. Getting regular exercise, even just 30 minutes a day, may lower your blood sugar level and may lead to weight loss. Talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program. You may need to take one or more oral or injectable diabetic medications to help lower blood sugar. Some of these medications may increase the amount of insulin your pancreas makes. Others reduced insulin resistance in your skeletal muscles. Some medications make certain tissues more sensitive to insulin. Others cause your digestive system to take in less sugar. Some medications let helpful chemicals in your digestive system stay active longer. These chemicals help lower your blood sugar level. Other medicines help your pancreas release insulin when your blood sugar is high. They also slow down the release of insulin when your blood sugar is low. And some medications increase the amount of sugar excreted in your urine. If your diabetes cannot be controlled with diet, exercise, and/or other medications, your doctor may also consider insulin. Insulin that you inject helps to replace the insulin your body would normally produce. A healthcare professional will train you to inject them just under your skin. You may need to check the level of sugar in your blood with a glucometer. Ask your doctor how often to check. To do this you will prick your finger with a small needle called a lancet. Then you will place a drop of blood in the glucometer, following the directions provided with your glucometer. Based on your blood sugar level, you may need to adjust your meals, physical activity, or medication dose as directed by your doctor. By treating and controlling your blood sugar level, you may help prevent the complications from type 2 diabetes. It is important to take your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not go off your medication unless your doctor tells you to do so. Tell him or her about any side effects you may have.