Diabetes and You by Novo Nordisk - HTML preview

PLEASE NOTE: This is an HTML preview only and some elements such as links or page numbers may be incorrect.
Download the book in PDF, ePub, Kindle for a complete version.

Type 2 diabetes and medicines

IMG_4572_72dpi.psd

Many people with type 2 diabetes follow meal and physical activity plans to help manage their blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes is affected by what you eat, how much you eat, how active you are, and how you deal with stress.

But following your meal plan and staying active often are not enough to keep your blood sugar in check. Medicine is almost always necessary. If your blood sugar levels are above your recommended goal range or your A1C is higher than desired with meal planning and physical activity alone, then you might need medicine for your diabetes.

“Changing your eating habits and eating on time in addition to taking your medications are a plus. It’s also important to exercise. Also, remember to test your blood sugar before and after meals to give you an idea of what your blood sugars are before and after meals and after exercising. You will find after a while that doing these things may help you manage your blood sugar.”

– Karen M, Illinois

IMG_2791_72dpi.psd

It is now clear that type 2 diabetes changes over time:

  • The beta cells stop working and start to die off. Many people with type 2 diabetes have already lost half of their beta cell function by the time their diabetes is diagnosed
  • As the number of beta cells goes down, the pancreas makes less and less insulin

As a result, your treatment may also change over time.

betacells.jpg

There are many types of effective medicines to treat diabetes. The main types of diabetes medicines are:

  • Pills taken by mouth
  • Medicines taken by injections

Talk with your diabetes care team to find out which diabetes medicine is right for you. You can learn more about diabetes medicines at Cornerstones4Care.com.