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Diagnosed with Diabetes


Now What?

Recently diagnosed with diabetes? You may wonder how you will ever learn to manage diabetes—especially with all the reminders from your doctor to check your blood sugar, make dietary changes, exercise regularly, keep tabs on your weight and take diabetes medications.

You can do it! You can self-manage diabetes each day by learning more about this metabolic condition—the causes, the symptoms and the treatment—and by seeing your diabetes doctor and other members of your healthcare team regularly to prevent serious diabetes complications.

Unlike those with type 1diabetes, people with type 2 diabetes produce insulin. However, the insulin produced is either not enough or doesn't work properly in the body. When there is not enough insulin or the insulin is not used as it should be, glucose—sugar—cannot get into the body's cells for use as energy. This causes blood glucose to rise.

Taking steps each day to care for your diabetes will help to keep your blood sugar level controlled. These daily steps can help you avoid other serious problems associated with diabetes over your lifetime.



As a reminder, always consult your doctor for medical advice and treatment before starting any program.

By Debra Fulghum Bruce, PhD
Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

Sources: American Diabetes Association: "Conditions and Treatment." "Type 2 Diabetes." "Diabetes Risk Test." "Pre-Diabetes." "How to Prevent Pre-Diabetes." "Types of Exercise." National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC): "What I Need To Know about Eating and Diabetes." "Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Diabetes Under Control." "Your Guide to Diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2." National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: "What is Metabolic Syndrome?" American Heart Association: "Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes has Doubled in 30 Years." CDC: "National Diabetes Fact Sheet." WebMD Public Information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: "Diabetes Overview." WebMD Public Information from the National Institutes of Health: "7 Principles for Controlling Diabetes for Life." WebMD Medical Reference: "Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors." "Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes." "Diabetes Warning Signs." "Diabetes Testing." "Diabetes Doctors: Choosing Your Health Care Team." "Type 2 Diabetes in Children." "Type 2 Diabetes and Exercise." "Home Blood Glucose Testing." "The Basics of a Healthy Diabetes Diet." "Diabetes and Weight Loss: The Right Path." "Eight Lifestyle Tips to Avoid Diabetes Complications." WebMD Medical Reference from eMedicineHealth: "Causes of Type 2 Diabetes." WebMD Health News: "Weight Loss Surgery Treats Diabetes." "Once-a-Week Byetta Fights Diabetes." WebMD Slideshow: "Type 2 Diabetes Slideshow: Overview." Secular trends in incidence of childhood IDDM in 10 countries. Diabetes Epidemiology Research International Group. Diabetes 1990; 39:858. Genuth, S, et al. Follow-up report on the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care 2003; 26:3160. Standards of medical care in diabetes—2008. Position Statement. Diabetes Care 2008; 31 Suppl 1:S12. © 2009 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.