Type 2 diabetes (sometimes called type 2 "diabetes mellitus") is a disorder that disrupts the way your body uses sugar.

All the cells in your body need sugar to work normally. Sugar gets into the cells with the help of a hormone called insulin. If there is not enough insulin, or if the body stops responding to insulin, sugar builds up in the blood. That is what happens to people with diabetes.

There are 2 different types of diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the problem is that the body makes little or no insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the problem is that:

• The body's cells do not respond to insulin
• The body does not make enough insulin
• Or both

Type 2 diabetes usually causes no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they include:

● Needing to urinate often

● Intense thirst

● Blurry vision

Even though type 2 diabetes might not make you feel sick, it can cause serious problems over time, if it is not treated. The disorder can lead to:

● Heart attacks

● Strokes

● Kidney disease

● Vision problems (or even blindness)

● Pain or loss of feeling in the hands and feet

● The need to have fingers, toes, or other body parts removed (amputated)

To find out if you have type 2 diabetes, your doctor can do a blood test to measure the amount of sugar in your blood.

There are a few medicines that help control blood sugar. Some people need to take pills that help the body make more insulin or that help insulin do its job. Others need insulin shots.

Sometimes, people with type 2 diabetes also need medicines to reduce the problems caused by the disease. For instance, medicines used to lower blood pressure can reduce the chances of a heart attack or stroke.

Medicines are not the only tool to manage diabetes. Being active, losing weight, eating right, and not smoking can all help people with diabetes stay as healthy as possible.

Yes, it can. To reduce your chances of getting type 2 diabetes, the most important thing you can do is control your weight. If you already have the disorder, losing weight can improve your health and blood sugar control. Being active can also help prevent or control the disorder.

The goals of treatment for type 2 diabetes (sometimes called type 2 "diabetes mellitus") are:

• To keep a person's blood sugar at or near a normal level
• To prevent future health problems that can happen in people with diabetes

Type 2 diabetes can be treated with:

• Diet changes
• Lifestyle changes
• Medicines

Your doctor  will work with you to make a treatment plan that is right for you.

As part of your treatment, your doctor might recommend that you:

• Lose weight
• Eat healthy foods
• Get regular exercise
• Not smoke

Making these lifestyle changes is as important as taking your medicines.

Different medicines can be used to treat type 2 diabetes. The first medicine that most people with type 2 diabetes take is a pill called metformin.

One way to know if your treatment is working is to check your blood sugar level. People can use a device called a "blood glucose monitor" to check their blood sugar level at home. If your doctor recommends that you use a blood glucose monitor, he or she will teach you how and tell you when to use it.

Your doctor can also do a blood test called an "A1C." This test checks what your blood sugar level has been over the past 2 to 3 months.

If your blood sugar level is still higher than normal after you have been taking metformin for 2 to 3 months, your doctor might add a second medicine to your treatment.

There are different medicines your doctor can prescribe. The choice will depend, in part, on your weight, your other health problems, and if you want to use a shot.

Some of these medicines can cause low blood sugar as a side effect. Symptoms of low blood sugar can include:

• Sweating and shaking
• Feeling hungry
• Feeling worried

Low blood sugar should be treated quickly because it can cause you to pass out. Your doctor will tell you ahead of time how to treat low blood sugar.

Insulin is a medicine that lowers a person's blood sugar level. People who use insulin might use it as a second medicine, or as their only medicine. It usually comes in the form of a shot that people give themselves. One brand of insulin comes in the form of a powder that is breathed into the lungs.

If your doctor prescribes insulin, he or she will tell you which form to use and show you how to give yourself a shot, if needed. He or she will also tell you:

• Which type of insulin to use – There are different types of the insulin that come in a shot. Some types work faster or last longer than others.
• How much insulin to use
• When to use it
• When to check your blood sugar level

An insulin dose often needs to change when a person gets sick, has surgery, travels, or eats out. Ask your doctor or  how to change your dose during these times.

Sometimes, people with type 2 diabetes need medicines to treat health problems that often affect people with diabetes. For example, people who have high blood pressure might take medicines to lower their blood pressure. This can reduce their chances of having a heart attack or stroke.

Most people with diabetes see their doctor  every 3 or 4 months. When you see your doctor , he or she will talk with you about your medicines and blood sugar levels. If your blood sugar levels are not in control, your doctor   might make changes to your treatment plan.

Taking care of diabetes can be hard, and some people feel sad or worried about their diabetes. Let your doctor know if you feel this way so that he or she can help.

Diet is important, because it is part of diabetes treatment. Many people need to change what they eat and how much they eat to help treat their diabetes. It is important for people to treat their diabetes so that they:

• Keep their blood sugar at or near a normal level
• Prevent long-term problems, such as heart or kidney problems, that can happen in people with diabetes

Changing your diet can also help treat obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. These conditions can affect people with diabetes and can lead to future problems, such as heart attacks or strokes.

Your Doctor or Diabetes Educator / Dietitian will work with you to make a food plan to change your diet.

When and how often you should eat depends, in part, on the diabetes medicine that you take. For example, people who use a certain type of insulin or who take diabetes pills that increase insulin levels (called "sulfonylureas") should eat meals at the same time each day. This helps prevent people from getting low blood sugar.

People who use an insulin pump, insulin before each meal, or pills that improve the way insulin works (called "metformin") do not always have to eat meals at the same time. That's because people who use these treatments have a smaller chance of getting low blood sugar.

Our bodies break down the food we eat into small pieces called carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

When planning what to eat, people with diabetes need to think about:

• Carbohydrates (or "carbs") – Carbohydrates, which are sugars that our bodies use for energy, can raise a person's blood sugar level. Your doctor, diabetes educator, or dietitian will tell you how many carbohydrates you should eat at each meal or snack. Foods that have carbohydrates include:
• Bread, pasta, and rice
• Vegetables and fruits
• Dairy foods
• Foods with added sugar

It is best to get your carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat milk.

• Protein – Your doctor, diabetes educator, or dietitian will tell you how much protein you should eat each day. It is best to eat lean meats, fish, eggs, beans, peas, soy products, nuts, and seeds.
• Fats – The type of fat you eat is more important than the amount of fat. "Saturated" and "trans" fats can increase your risk for heart problems, like a heart attack.
• Foods that have saturated fats include meat, butter, cheese, and ice cream.
• Foods that have trans fats include processed food with "partially hydrogenated oils" on the ingredient list. This may include fried foods, store bought cookies, muffins, pies, and cakes.

"Monounsaturated" and "polyunsaturated" fats are better for you. Foods with these types of fat include fish, avocado, olive oil, and nuts.

• Calories – People need to eat a certain amount of calories each day to keep their weight the same. People who are overweight and want to lose weight need to eat fewer calories each day.
• Fiber – Eating foods with a lot of fiber can help control a person's blood sugar level.
• Salt – People who have high blood pressure should not eat foods that contain a lot of salt (also called sodium). People with high blood pressure should also eat healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods.
• Alcohol – Having more than 1 drink (for women) or 2 drinks (for men) a day can raise blood sugar levels. Also, drinks that have fruit juice or soda in them can raise blood sugar levels.

If you need to lose weight, you can:

• Exercise – Try to exercise for 30 minutes a day, most days of the week. Some people might also need to check their blood sugar levels before and after exercising. DO NOT exercise on empty stomach.
• Eat fewer calories – Your doctor, diabetes educator, or dietitian can tell you how many calories you should eat each day in order to lose weight.

If you are worried about your weight, size, or shape, talk with your doctor, diabetes educator, or dietitian so that he or she can help.

Yes. You do not need to eat special foods if you have diabetes. You and your family can eat the same foods. Changing your diet is mostly about eating healthy foods and not eating too much.

The other parts of diabetes treatment are:

• Exercise
• Medicines

Some people with diabetes need to learn how to match their diet and exercise with their medicine dose. For example, people who use insulin might need to choose the dose of insulin they give themselves. To choose their dose, they need to think about:

• What they plan to eat at the next meal
• How much exercise they plan to do
• What their blood sugar level is

If the diet and exercise do not match the medicine dose, a person's blood sugar level can get too low or too high. Blood sugar levels that are too low or too high can cause problems.

Exercise has many benefits. It can:

• Burn calories, which helps people control their weight
• Help control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes
• Lower blood pressure, especially in people with high blood pressure
• Lower stress and help with depression
• Keep bones strong, so they don't get thin and break easily
• Lower the chance of dying from heart disease

There are 3 main types of exercise. They are:

• Aerobic exercise– Aerobic exercise raises a person's heart rate. Examples of aerobic exercise are walking, running, or swimming.
• Resistance training– Resistance training helps make your muscles stronger. People can do this type of exercise using weights, exercise bands, or weight machines.
• Stretching– Stretching exercises help your muscles and joints move more easily.

It's important to have all 3 types of exercise in your exercise program. That way, your body, muscles, and joints can be as healthy as possible.

If you have not exercised before or have not exercised in a long time, talk with your doctor or diabetes educator before you start a very active exercise program.

If you have heart disease or risk factors for heart disease (like high blood pressure or diabetes), your doctor might recommend that you have an exercise test before starting an exercise program.

When you start an exercise program, start slowly. For example, do the exercise at a slow pace or for a few minutes only. Over time, you can exercise faster and for longer periods of time.

Each time you exercise, you should:

• Warm up– Warming up can help keep you from hurting your muscles when you exercise. To warm up, do a light aerobic exercise (such as walking slowly) or stretch for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Work out– During a workout, you can walk fast, swim, run, or use an exercise machine, for example. You should also stretch all of your joints, including your neck, shoulders, back, hips, and knees. At least 2 times a week, you can add resistance training exercises to your workout.
• Cool down – Cooling down helps keep you from feeling dizzy after you exercise and helps prevent muscle cramps. To cool down, you can stretch or do a light aerobic exercise for 5 minutes.

Doctors recommend that people exercise at least 30 minutes a day, on 5 or more days of the week.

If you can't exercise for 30 minutes straight, try to exercise for 10 minutes at a time, 3 or 4 times a day.

If you have any of the following symptoms when you exercise, stop exercising and call your doctor or nurse right away:

• Pain or pressure in your chest, arms, throat, jaw, or back
• Nausea or vomiting
• Feeling like your heart is fluttering or racing very fast
• Feeling dizzy or faint

Many people have very busy lives and might not think that they have time to exercise. But it's important to try to find time to exercise, even if you are tired or work a lot. Exercise can increase your energy level, which might even help you get more work done.

On days when you really can't find time to exercise, there are ways that you can be more active. For example, you can:

• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Park in a parking space that is farther away from the door
• Take a longer route when you walk from one place to another

Spending a lot of time sitting still – for example, watching television or working on the computer – can be bad for your health. Try to get up and move around whenever you can.

To exercise safely and avoid problems, be sure to:

• Drink fluids during and after exercising (but drinks should not have caffeine in them)
• Avoid exercising outside if it is too hot or cold
• Wear layers of clothes, so that you can take them off if you get too hot
• Wear shoes that fit well and support your feet