Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes, and because of the nature of the disease, you can have it for some time before you have symptoms. In fact, it’s not uncommon for someone to have had the disease for a number of years before being tested, meaning some people already have diabetes-related complications at the time of diagnosis.
When you have type 2 diabetes, the insulin your pancreas makes doesn’t work properly, or your pancreas can’t make enough insulin. Insulin controls the amount of glucose (sugar) you have circulating in your blood stream. Too little insulin means your blood glucose levels keep rising in response to the food you eat.
What is so bad about high blood glucose?
Your body needs glucose for energy. However, over time, too much glucose remaining in the blood may cause problems like heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, kidney disease, eye problems, and more.
Many studies have proven that maintaining blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels in accordance with your personal recommendations will help prevent the deterioration of the disease, prevent complications, and maintain a good quality of life.
And the good news is that there are things you can do to manage your diabetes and the stress that goes along with it, and Dario is here to help you with this task.
Here are tips that can help:
Coping strategies. Diabetes is a chronic disease and dealing with it may make you feel overwhelmed at times. If these feelings last more than a week or two, it is a signal for you that you need help in dealing with your condition so that you can feel and cope better. Talk with your doctor about your feelings. You can also chat with your Dario Coach and get help and support in your daily life. It is important to share your feelings about diabetes, about negative reactions you receive from those around you regarding your diabetes, and most importantly, do not feel like you must hide your diabetes.
Cost of medication. If you are concerned about the cost of your medications, talk to your healthcare provider. They may know about government or other programs that can help you with costs. It is important to share any problem without delay.
A trouble shared. Share with those close to you if you are struggling with diabetes. Allow yourself to get help from them so they can make it easier for you. Also think about joining groups of people who are struggling like you – you will be able to receive ideas and tips and give your own. The key word is to share as much as possible. In addition, the Dario App can help you feel less overwhelmed and alone in managing your disease.
Small steps. Good diabetes management requires making changes in your daily life, such as moving towards a healthy diet, getting regular physical activity, learning how to manage stress, etc. At first, this can be confusing and stressful, so try to break things down and work on each task separately, one at a time.
It is important to understand that you are on a journey, and you are not expected to meet your goals immediately. On the contrary, you should start by adjusting the goal to your abilities. For example, if your goal is to walk 150 minutes a week, break it down to 30 minutes a day five times a week and start by walking at times and days that are convenient and suitable for you gradually increasing until you reach your goal.
And don’t forget to take a break and take time to do something you really love!
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