Type 2 Diabetes - Will Blood Sugar Control Reduce Diabetic Complications?

It can be a challenge to live with a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, even in the best of times. 

And certainly when you were not looking at receiving such a diagnosis; after all you didn't know the genes you inherited would affect your health in this manner.

When you were first diagnosed with this potentially life-threatening disease, it might have been difficult for you to think ahead.

For you to think ahead and make plans to protect yourself from the long-term effects of diabetes that can come along when you don't stabilize your blood sugar level and maintain it in your ideal target range.

Since 1987, research has proven blood sugar levels are directly related to future diabetes complications. 

Carefully managing your weight and blood sugar level is absolutely necessary to avoid long-term complications. 

High blood sugar over a long period slowly weakens certain parts of your body; parts such as...

• the eyes
• kidneys
• skin.

High blood sugar gradually damages your blood vessels and your nervous system, affecting parts of your body such as your feet; it even affects sexual function.

Some people appear to be genetically predisposed to have specific complications, while others seem predisposed not to. 

Although your genetic disposition is not within your control, you can lower the risk of complications be practicing good self-management and taking great care of yourself.

Don't forget that when you were first diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, you might already have had the disease for many years without realizing it. 

It has been suggested the average person with Type 2 diabetes had the disease for eight to ten years before it was discovered.

Better blood sugar control over time means less chance of complications. 

Good control of blood sugar is the over-riding factor in preventing the appearance of complications and in lessening some of their worse effects.

As you can see, accepting you have Type 2 diabetes, thinking ahead and making preparations for your future health, is critical.

It's certainly never too late to help yourself. You can do this by:

• controlling your blood sugar
• losing a few pounds or kilograms
• stopping smoking.

Obesity is connected to many diseases. Anyone with diabetes who smoke are eight times as likely to have complications as are non-smokers. 

Care enough about yourself to take on a new and better program of managing your diabetes that includes:

• blood sugar testing on a regular basis
• stress reduction
• lifestyle changes
• taking the medications prescribed for you by your doctor.

Once you start to lose weight and your blood sugar levels lower, with your doctors supervision you should be able to lower or eliminate your anti-diabetic medications.

Practicing good self-management will help you now and in your future.

How do you start to create a healthy lifestyle today so you can avoid the long-term effects of diabetes?

The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.