For a non-diabetic, making the right decisions concerning your health will affect how you feel for the rest of the day. But for people with Type 2 diabetes, there is so much more riding on these decisions. So what should you know to ensure that the choices you make are the right ones?

First, you need to have a clear understanding of your disease. That means:

 

• your optimal blood sugar levels,
• how different foods affect you,
• what to expect in certain situations,
• if you are more prone to hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, etc.

 

All of these areas will form a basis of knowledge to tell you exactly what it will take to successfully manage your Type 2 diabetes. It will also warn you of the consequences if you don’t.

Second, you need to know if you have any underlying conditions as a result of your Type 2 diabetes. This could mean neuropathy, skin problems, conditions of the eyes, and many others. By the time you have become a full-blown Type 2 diabetic, changes have been taking place in your body for ten years or more. It is these changes which could mean you now have:

 

• numbness and tingling in your hands or feet,
• erectile dysfunction, or
• blurry vision…

 

even when just newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Your doctor will be able to fill you in on areas of concern. Listen to what they tell you and how to sub-manage these areas.

Many times, the resulting conditions of Type 2 diabetes can be as treacherous, or even more, than diabetes itself.