Living with Type 2 Diabetes
Bradley Woodley
Purpose
To educate patient and family members with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes
How to manage your type 2 diabetes
What symptoms to look for
What foods to eat
When to seek medical help
Objectives
Educate patient on type 2 diabetes
Describe the pathophysiology of type 2
diabetes
Explain the possible symptoms that can
go along with type 2 diabetes
Educate patient on conservative and
medication regiments
Educate patient on managing type 2
diabetes on their own
Educating patient and family on when to
seek medical treatment
Target Audience
Any patient who is newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
Any patient's family member who has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
Patients at risk for developing type 2 diabetes
Patients with noncompliance with conservative or medical treatment of type 2 diabetes
Goals
Identify Identify Understand Verbalize
The patient can The patient can The patient will The patient will
identify the symptoms identify the proper understand that with verbalize when to seek
of hypoglycemia food choices with conservative treatment medical treatment and
proper understanding (exercise and healthy when to contact their
eating) this disease can primary care provider
be easier controlled
What is Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is an impairment in the way the body regulates and uses sugar (glucose) as a fuel
This long-term condition results in too much sugar circulating in the bloodstream
Eventually, high blood sugar levels can lead to disorders of the circulatory, nervous and immune systems.
There are primarily two interrelated problems at work
Your pancreas does not produce enough insulin - a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cells
Or cells respond poorly to insulin and take in less sugar
What is glucose (sugar)
Glucose (a sugar) is a main source of energy for the cells that make up
muscles and other tissues
The use and regulation of glucose includes the following:
Glucose comes from two major sources: food and your liver
Glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream, where it enters cells with the help of
insulin
Your liver stores and makes glucose
When your glucose levels are low, such as when you haven't eaten in a
while, the liver breaks down stored glycogen into glucose to keep your
glucose level within a normal range
Causes
Cells in muscle, fat and the liver
become resistant to insulin
Because these cells don't interact in
a normal way with insulin, they
don't take in enough sugar
The pancreas is unable to produce
enough insulin to manage blood sugar
levels
Risk Factors of Type 2 Diabetes
Sedentary
Overweight Family History Hyperlipidemia
lifestyle
History of
Hypertension Age gestational
diabetes
Signs and Symptoms
Increased thirst
Frequent urination
Increased hunger
Unintended weight loss
Fatigue
Blurred vision
Slow-healing sores
Frequent infections
Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
Areas of darkened skin, usually in the armpits and neck
When to
seek help
Whenever you notice or feel any of the
signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes
Complications
Increased risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and narrowing of blood vessels
High blood sugar over time can damage or destroy nerves
Damage to nerves of the heart can contribute to irregular heart rhythms
Diabetes may lead to chronic kidney disease or irreversible end-stage kidney disease
Diabetes increases the risk of serious eye diseases, such as cataracts and glaucoma, and may damage the
blood vessels of the retina
Diabetes may leave you more susceptible to skin problems, including bacterial and fungal infections
Left untreated, cuts and blisters can become serious infections, which may heal poorly
Type 2 diabetes seems to increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other disorders that cause dementia
Prevention
Eating healthy foods Losing weight Increase activity
• Focus on fruits, vegetables and • If you have prediabetes, losing • Try to get up every 30 minutes
whole grains 7% to 10% of your body weight and move around for at least a
can reduce the risk of diabetes few minutes
• Aim for 2 ½ hours or more a
week of moderate to vigorous
aerobic activity, such as a brisk
walk, bicycling, running or
swimming
Diet
Foods to Eat Foods to Avoid
Fruits High fat meat
Vegetables Full fat dairy
Protein rich foods Whole milk, butter, cheese
Skinless poultry, fish, lean meats Sweets
Healthy fats Desserts, candy, cookies
Olive oil, avocados, sesame oil Sugary drinks
Nuts and seeds Pop, juice, sports drinks
Beverages Processed foods
Water, black coffee, unsweet tea Chips, processed meat, fast food
Potential Medications
Metformin - usually the first medication used to treat type 2 diabetes as it lowers the amount of glucose your liver makes
and helps your body respond better to the insulin it does make
Sulfonylureas - this group of drugs helps your body make more insulin
Meglitinides - they help your body make more insulin, and they work faster than sulfonylureas.
Thiazolidinediones - like metformin, they make you more sensitive to insulin.
These raise your risk of heart problems, so they aren’t usually a first choice for treatment
DPP-4 inhibitors - these medications help lower your blood sugar levels, but they can also cause joint pain and could
inflame your pancreas
GLP-1 receptor agonists - you take these medications with a needle to slow digestion and lower blood sugar levels.
SGLT2 inhibitors - these help your kidney filter out more glucose
Insulin - you might take long-lasting shots at night
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, August 10). Type 2 diabetes. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 15, 2021, from
[Link]
Grey, H. (2021, June 1). Type 2 Diabetes DIET: Foods to Eat, foods to Avoid, keto, and more.
Healthline. Retrieved from [Link] meal-plans.
Type 2 overview. Type 2 Diabetes - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment | ADA. (n.d.). Retrieved
September 15, 2021, from [Link]