It is the most common form of diabetes. Formerly it was called adult-onset diabetes, but it can occur at any age. It usually begins with insulin resistance. This is when the fat, muscles, and liver do not use the insulin properly. When insulin resistance first starts, the pancreas tries to keep up. It eventually loses its ability to secrete enough insulin and high blood sugar and diabetes occur.

For non-diabetics a desirable range of blood glucose is 70 to 120. Their blood glucose may rise after meals, but within a few hours it returns to normal.

For diabetics, the desirable range can vary. Your health care provider can tell you what levels are best for you. However, generally a desirable pre-meal target range is 90 to 130 and less than 180 one to two hours after meals. Keeping your blood glucose within a normal range (and not having wild swings) is one of the best ways to prevent diabetic complications.

These complications can include:

1. Blindness (diabetes is the number one cause of blindness)

2. Loss of kidney function

3. Loss of feeling in feet and legs

4. Amputation of feet and legs

5. Increased rate of heart disease and stroke

6. Erectile dysfunction

7. Recurrent urinary tract infections

8. Loss of memory

9. Decreases in vocabulary and overall intelligence

10. Lessening of attention span

There are four things that can be done to prevent these problems in diabetics:

1. Checking your blood glucose often. Your health care provider will tell you how often you need to check this. Generally, it is five times a day. When you get up (before breakfast), after breakfast, after lunch, after dinner, and just before you go to bed.

2. Eat properly. Keeping track of carbohydrates in relationship to:

3. Exercising or keeping active. Never start an exercise program without first checking with your health care provider.

4. Taking your medications. Not all diabetics take medications and having to start taking medications does not mean that you are bad. It can simply mean that your diabetes has progressed. It could also mean that your pancreas is producing even less insulin than it did before or that you are not absorbing the insulin as well as you once did.

In conclusion, keeping your blood glucose at a steady level that is within your target range is one of the best things that you can do to prevent problems.

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• Blood Sugar Facts Will Help You Manage Diabetes
• Types of Diabetes and Symptoms

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