Having Type 2 diabetes doesn’t have to mean your life as you know it is over, or the condition should worsen. As long as you are willing to take the appropriate steps to manage your condition there is no reason why you should have to live less than a long, fulfilling life. But you have to be willing to make the necessary changes that come with receiving a diagnosis of diabetes. What are the steps?

1. Knowing everything you can about Type 2 diabetes. The more you know and understand what you are up against the better your chances are of learning to defeat it before it defeats you. Get as much information from your doctor as you can. This is the best place to start asking questions; your doctor can then advise you on diabetic groups to join, and where to get the best information to help you understand everything about Type 2 diabetes. Once you are home and you think of new concerns or questions, make sure to write them down so you don’t forget them before you visit your doctor again.

2. Talk to other people who have Type 2 diabetes. One of the best steps to take is to become involved with other diabetics either through support groups or through acquaintances. This allows you to pick up specific knowledge you might not encounter during your research. It also allows you to learn from the mistakes of other diabetics firsthand.

3. Learn what all of your ideal numbers should be. This not only includes your best-case scenario blood sugar readings, but also your HbA1c percentage, your good and bad cholesterol, your triglycerides, blood pressure, your daily caloric intake, and what your ideal weight should be.

4. Understand about exercise. This means knowing what type of exercise you should carry out, and which ones you should avoid. It means knowing how often you should exercise and at what intensity. It also means understanding what the warning signs of overdoing it during exercise are, and how you handle them should they occur.

5. Learn how to monitor your progress. You need to take a few steps daily to ensure your Type 2 diabetes or blood sugar levels are getting better… and not worse. First, is to log your food intake and your exercise type and time spent doing it. Second, is to chart your blood sugar readings for you and your doctor to preview when the time comes. Third, is to monitor your weight so excess weight doesn’t begin to creep up on you.

6. Last, is to see your doctor when you are advised to. If you happen to miss an appointment then make sure to reschedule it as soon as possible.