Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Care Plan

Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which your blood glucose, or sugar, levels are too high. Glucose comes from the foods you eat. Insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose gets into your cells to give them energy.

With type 1 diabetes (Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus), your body does not make insulin. With type 2 diabetes (Non-Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus), your body does not make or use qualitative/ quantitative insulin well. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in your blood.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It is important to remember that there is no specific cure for diabetes; the condition can be controlled with regular exercise, proper diet and healthy lifestyle.

If the blood sugar levels cannot be maintained by the above changes the condition has to be controlled with appropriate medicines to regulate the sugar levels or by taking Insulin therapy.Uncontrolled Diabetes on long term can lead to complications. Family history and genes play a large role in type 2 diabetes. Low activity level, poor diet, and excess body weight around the waist increase your risk.⁽¹⁾

Symptoms:

Often, people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms at first. They may not have symptoms for many years. It is not unusual for the diagnosis to be incidental when the patient visits the doctor for some other symptom and the blood tests reveal diabetes. Even routine health checkups detect diabetes at times.

• Bladder, kidney, skin, or other infections that are more frequent or heal slowly
• Fatigue

• Hunger

• Increased thirst

• Increased urination

• Blurred vision

• Erectile dysfunction

• Pain or numbness in the feet or hands⁽¹⁾

• Check your blood sugar level as advised by your doctor. Your doctor will help you set your blood sugar goals. Most people with type 2 diabetes only need to check their blood sugar once or twice a day.

• Maintain a well-balanced healthy diet.

• Keep your body weight under control.

• Exercise regularly after consultation with your doctor.
• Take medicines regularly as prescribed.

• Pay special attention at your foot.

• Do not neglect if you have any of the symptoms of diabetes mellitus or there are some family history of diabetes.

• Do not stop taking medicines unless your doctor advises so.

• Do not neglect if you notice any infection or numbness of your feet.

Common complications:

• You could have eye problems, including trouble seeing (especially at night), and light sensitivity. You could become blind.
• Your feet and skin can develop sores and infections. Such wounds could also be difficult to heal. Uncontrolled diabetes with poor compliance by patient can also result in conditions of non healing wounds and infections which could even result in removal of the diseased part. Infection can also cause pain and itching in other parts of the body.
• Diabetes may make it harder to control your blood pressure and cholesterol. This can lead to a heart attack and other problems. It can become harder for blood to flow to your legs and feet.
• Nerves in your body can get damaged, causing pain, tingling, and a loss of feeling.
• Because of nerve damage, you could have problems digesting the food you eat. You could feel weakness or have trouble going to the bathroom. Nerve damage can make it harder for men to have an erection.
• High blood sugar and other problems can lead to kidney damage. Uncontrolled diabetes with poor compliance by patient can also result in conditions of renal failure which could result in patient resorting to dialysis for detoxifying the body.
• Infections of the skin, female genital tract, and urinary tract are also more common.⁽¹⁾

Fig.2. Complications of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2.
Photo Credit: http://www.myendohealth.com/Diabetes.html

Preventing complications:
To prevent problems from diabetes, visit your health care provider or diabetes educator at least four times a year. Talk about any problems you are having. Your doctor may prescribe medications or other treatments to reduce your chances of developing eye disease, kidney disease, and other conditions that are more common in people with diabetes. To prevent injury to your feet, wear proper footwear, check and care for your feet every day. You can help prevent type 2 diabetes complications by keeping a healthy body weight and an active lifestyle.

Follow-up schedule:

Physical Activity/Exercise:

Regular exercise is important for everyone. It is even more important you have diabetes. Exercise in which your heart beats faster and you breathe faster helps lower your blood sugar level without medication. It also burns extra calories and fat so you can manage your weight.
           
Exercise can help your health by improving blood flow and blood pressure. Exercise also increases the body's energy level, lowers tension, and improves your ability to handle stress.

                 
     
Ask your health care provider before starting any exercise program. People with type 2 diabetes must take special steps before, during, and after intense physical activity or exercise.
             
             Exercises for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Nutrition Plan

It is important to eat the right kind of food for a healthy mind and body.  Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2) is a chronic metabolic disease where the body doesn't take up insulin properly which results in high blood sugar.  It is recommended that people with diabetes should avoid fasting.  Try to incorporate 6-7 small meals/snacks during the day.