How is type 2 diabetes managed?

Type 2 diabetes is a diverse disease, which varies from one person to the next. Due to its individual nature, it also requires individually tailored management.

The basis of the management of type 2 diabetes is a healthy lifestyle and weight control combined with medication in accordance with individual needs. Lifestyle management means adopting exercise and dietary habits that help reduce weight, blood sugar and the arterial disease risk factors to be a everyday part of life.

Can type 2 diabetes be cured?

According to new research, over half of overweight people with type 2 diabetes have managed to bring their blood sugar to a normal level and stop drug therapy by losing 10% to 15% of their starting weight. Read more about obesity treatment at Health Village’s Weightcontrolhub (in Finnish or Swedish).

Type 2 diabetes care includes following things:

Weight control

Immediatly after you've been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you should consider your own weight history and set yourself a reasonable weight target. The target should be realistic and achievable. For most people, a realistic target is to lose 5% to 10% of weight.

Type 2 diabetes and weight control

Health-promoting eating

In diabetes the recommended quality of diet is the same as for the rest of the population, tailored to individual requirements. The essential factors in eating are regulaer meal rhythm, good food quality and appropriate quantity. Eating according to recommendations corrects blood sugar, promotes weight control, and heart health.

Diabetes and eating

Exercise is medicine

Regular exercise is beneficial for everyone’s general well-being and fitness as well as heart health. In the case of type 2 diabetes, it also efficiently reduces the blood sugar level. In type 2 diabetes, daily exercise can reduce blood sugar more effectively than any individual drug.

Diabetes and exercise

Medications

The drug therapy for type 2 diabetes starts at the time of diagnosis based on the blood sugar level. If your blood sugar is only slightly high and glycated haemoglobin HbA1c is below 53 mmol/mol, correction of blood sugar levels can initially be pursued with effective lifestyle management and weight loss. If your blood sugar level is higher or if you exhibit complications related to diabetes, the drug therapy will being at the time of diagnosis.

Most people also need drug therapy for hypertension and disorders of the fat metabolism.

Self-management guidance and support

Lifestyle and self-management guidance being as soon as possible after the diabetes diagnosis. Your personal life situation, work, hobbies, lifestyle as well as eating and exercise habits are assessed. Together with healthcare professional you ponder on the possible things requiring change, goals for the treatment of diabetes and form a personal care plan.

Professional support in diabetes

Follow-up

The follow-up of a person with diabetes is divided into self-monitoring, follow-up examinations and follow-up meetings.

Self-monitoring entails, for example, blood sugar self-measurements in accordance with your form of treatment, measuring blood pressure at home, and self-monitoring the health of mouth and feet.

In addition to blood sugar balance, the topics covered by the follow-up examinations and meetings include cardiovascular health, the condition of eyes, kidneys, feet and mouth, how well person is able to implement self-management and how they are managing with diabetes.