Diabetes Treatment Basics

The first thing to know about when it comes to treating diabetes is blood glucose levels. The blood glucose level is the amount of glucose in the blood. Glucose is a sugar that comes from the foods we eat, and it's also formed and stored inside the body. It's the main source of energy for the cells of the body, and it's carried to each cell through the blood. Glucose gets into the cells with the help of a hormone called insulin (pronounced: in-suh-lin).
So how do blood glucose levels relate to type 2 diabetes? People with type 2 diabetes don't respond normally to insulin anymore, so glucose stays in the bloodstream and doesn't get into the cells. This causes blood glucose levels to go too high. High blood sugar levels can make people with type 2 diabetes feel sick, so a treatment plan for a person with type 2 diabetes involves keeping their blood sugar levels within a healthy range, while making sure they grow and develop normally. To do that, people with type 2 diabetes need to:

eat a healthy, balanced diet and follow a meal plan
get regular exercise
take medicines as prescribed
check blood sugar levels regularly

The good news is that sticking to the plan can help people feel healthy and avoid diabetes problems later.