Type 2 Diabetes
Guide to Good Health
Healthy Living Guide
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Type 2 Diabetes
Weight Management
TML MultiState IEBP
www.iebp.org
Reading level-7.2 | (Rev 7.10.14)
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease where you have too much glucose, also called sugar, in your bloodstream. The glucose in your
bloodstream comes from the foods like starches, fruits, sweets and drinks with sugar. We need the glucose to make energy
inside of our cells. To get the glucose into the cell you need the help of insulin. Insulin is a hormone made in your pancreas and
acts like a key to open up the cells to accept the glucose. But with diabetes, your cells might be resisting or your body might not
be making enough or any insulin.
There are at least three types of diabetes. The information in this guide is about Type 2 the most common type.
 Type 1 Diabetes: the body is not making insulin. People with Type 1 need to take insulin every day.
 Type 2 Diabetes: the body may or may not be making insulin or the cells are resisting insulin. People with Type 2 can
manage with diet and exercise but will often need to take pills or insulin. Taking insulin does not mean they now have Type
1 diabetes.
 Gestational Diabetes: is high blood sugar during pregnancy. It usually goes away after pregnancy but increases a woman’s
risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes for the rest of her life. It also increases her child’s risk of being overweight and getting
diabetes.
Overview & Facts
Signs & Symptoms
 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports almost 30
million Americans have diabetes, 95% with Type 2
 Many people have diabetes and do not know it. Not
everyone has symptoms. Symptoms can include:
 Feeling very thirsty
 8 million of those people do not know they have it
 Diabetes is a lifelong and progressive disease. This
means you need to manage your blood sugar everyday
or it will get worse over time.
 Losing weight without trying
 Feeling tired
 Having to urinate often
 Blurry vision
 There is no cure for diabetes at this time.
 Diabetes is serious, but you can learn to manage it.
Diabetes may have an adverse effect on your quality of
life. Effectively managing your diabetes can lead to less
disruption in your life.
 Managing your blood sugars and your diabetes can help
you feel better. It may help you avoid health problems
caused by diabetes such as:
 Heart attack and stroke
 Eye problems that can lead to trouble seeing or
going blind
 Nerve damage that can cause your hands and feet
to hurt, tingle, or feel numb; some people may even
lose a foot or leg
 Kidney problems that can cause your kidneys to stop
working
 Gum disease and loss of Teeth
 Sexual problems
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Causes
Eating too much sugar or too many sweets does not cause diabetes. The most common causes are being overweight or obese,
being sedentary and not doing any exercise. Thin people may be at risk if they have too much fat around their middle called
belly fat. Too much weight or fat causes the body not to use insulin properly, a condition called insulin resistance. Over time,
the cells that produce insulin cannot keep up with the body’s needs and diabetes develops.
Risk Factors
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You are more likely to get type 2 diabetes if you:
 are age 45 or older
 are overweight
 are not physically active
 have high blood pressure or
high cholesterol
 had gestational diabetes—
diabetes during
pregnancy—or gave birth to a baby weighing over 9
pounds
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have pre-diabetes or blood glucose levels that are
higher than normal, but not high enough to be called
diabetes
are African American, American Indian, Asian American,
Pacific Islander, or Hispanic/Latino
have a family history of diabetes
have polycystic ovary syndrome
have dark, thick, velvety skin around your neck or in
your armpits
have blood vessel problems affecting your heart, brain,
or legs
Diagnostic Workup
Diabetes can be diagnosed by different tests:
 Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) measures blood glucose in a person who has not eaten anything
for at least 8 hours. If your blood sugar is 126 or higher two different times, you have diabetes.
 Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) measures blood glucose after a person fasts at least 8 hours and
2 hours after the person drinks a glucose-containing beverage. If your blood sugar is higher than 200
you have diabetes.
 Random Plasma Glucose Test measures blood sugar any time after eating. If your blood sugar is 200
or higher means you could have diabetes. You should talk to your doctor
 Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) measures your average blood sugar 2 or 3 months before the test. An A1C of 6.5 or higher at 2
different times means you have diabetes.
 Your doctor may refer you to an endocrinologist (a specialist who treats diabetes).
Questions to Ask Your Provider
1. What are my cholesterol, blood pressure, and A1C levels?
6.
How can I learn more about diabetes?
2. What should they be?
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How often should I test my blood sugar?
3. What can I do to reach my targets?
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What should my blood sugar readings be?
4. What tests do I need and how often?
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What kind of diabetes do I have?
5. How do I take my medication?
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Share with Your Provider
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Tests or treatments received from other providers including urgent care centers, ER staff, or
telemedicine providers
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Medications prescribed by other providers including any vitamins, herbs or other
supplements or over the counter drugs
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Alcohol or recreational drug use.
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If you are working with a professional healthcare coach, share their suggestions with your
physician/provider.
Treatment and Care
Medical - Know your ABC’s:
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A1C measures your average glucose level over the
last three months.
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High blood pressure (BP) makes your heart work
too hard.
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LDL or bad Cholesterol builds up and clogs your
arteries. HDL or good cholesterol helps remove
cholesterol from your blood vessels.
Other tests include:
 Annual dilated eye exam
 Foot exam
 Kidney function test
Medication
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Take your medicines every day. Three kinds of
medicines can help you meet your glucose targets:
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There are several types of oral medication for
diabetes.
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Insulin is an injectable medication that comes in
both short-acting and long-acting forms.
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There are other injectable medications that are
not insulin.
Emotional/Psychological - Get help if you feel down. You
may feel better if you talk with a mental health counselor,
friend or a support group, clergy or family member.
Physical Activity
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Get 30 to 60 minutes of exercise, such as brisk walking,
on most days of the week.
Limit the amount of time you spend sitting.
Diet - Eating healthy is one of the most basic and important
way to control your diabetes. Many people lose weight once
they start following a meal plan to help manage blood
sugars.
 Ask for a diabetes meal plan to help you choose healthy
foods or
 Ask to see a dietitian to learn about how much to eat,
when to eat and how food affects your blood sugar. A
dietitian will help create a meal plan that works for you.
 A healthy diet includes:
 Fruits and vegetables
 Fish, lean meats, and
poultry
 Dried beans and peas
 Low-fat and skim milk and
cheese
 Avoid foods that have a lot of added sugar, salt or fat.
 Avoid drinks with sugar, choose water or sugar free drinks
instead.
Education - Go to a class if offered in your area or work with
a TML health coach to learn how to take charge of your
diabetes.
Monitoring - Test everyday to know if your blood sugar
readings are normal, too high or too low. Testing will help
you learn how food, exercise and stress affect your blood
sugar.
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Healthy Lifestyle Management
Here are ways to stay as healthy as possible with diabetes:
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Stop smoking—seek help to quit.
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Take your medicines even when you feel good.
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Check your feet every day. Call your health care team if
a cut, sore, blister or bruise on your feet or toes does
not begin to heal after one day.
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Avoid going bare foot, wearing flip-flop or sandals
Wear shoes and socks. Make sure your shoes fit
properly.
Take your shoes and socks off every time you see your
doctor and make sure they look at your feet
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Brush your teeth and floss every day to avoid problems
with your mouth, teeth or gums.
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See your dentist every 6 months for cleanings and
checkups.
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Report any changes in your eyesight to your doctor.
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Learn ways to reduce or manage stress
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Work on losing weight, a small amount of weight loss
can improve insulin resistance and make it easier to
keep your blood sugar in the normal range.
Avoid problems by seeing your health care team at least
twice a year to:
 Get your ABC tests, other
exams and yearly flu shot
 Have your weight and feet
checked.
 Review your record of blood
glucose self tests, your ABC
numbers and your action
plan.
Resources
 National Diabetes Education Program: http://ndep.nih.gov/
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Diabetes Education Program is jointly sponsored by the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the support of more than
200 partner organizations.
 The National Institute of Diabetes, and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: www2.niddk.nih.gov/
 American Diabetes Association: www.diabetes.org
 American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE): www.diabeteseducator.org/DiabetesEducation
 American College of Endocrinologist: http://outpatient.aace.com/
 UnitedHealthcare Optum Health: https://client.myoptumhealth.com/myoptumhealth#prelogin.learn.learnLanding
Contact A Health Coach - A health coach can help you meet your healthy lifestyle goals.
Call (888) 818-2822 to contact a personal health coach provided by TML MultiState IEBP.
DISCLAIMER:
This material is for informational purposes only, and should not be used to replace professional medical
advice. Always consult your provider before beginning a new treatment, diet, or fitness program. This
information should not be considered complete, nor should it be relied on in diagnosing or treating a medical
condition.
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