5 Mistakes Type 2 Diabetics Make

A chronic medical condition, type 2 diabetes often goes undiagnosed and untreated, especially in the early stages of the disease. These five mistakes are common among diabetics and can contribute to an increased risk of complications if left unchecked. Read on to learn more about these mistakes, how they can hurt you, and what you can do to overcome them.

1) Not Checking Blood Sugar

When blood sugar levels are uncontrolled, people with type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk for serious health problems like heart disease, stroke, and eye damage. That’s why it’s crucial to get regular checkups. Plus, daily tests can help you manage your condition by keeping tabs on how well you’re managing your blood sugar levels. If you’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and haven’t had any blood sugar checks recently, talk to your doctor about making an appointment for testing. It may be time for some lifestyle changes—and medication if necessary—to regain control of your glucose levels.

2) Lack of Exercise

While many people suffering from Type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese, exercise has a variety of other benefits as well. Exercise releases chemicals in your brain that improve your mental state, and it can help you maintain a healthy weight—two important factors in preventing or managing Type 2 diabetes. If you’re worried about harming your blood sugar levels through exercise, talk to your doctor first; he or she may recommend certain exercises that are good for diabetics. For example, cycling is an excellent aerobic exercise for Type 2 patients because it involves sitting down while engaging in inactivity. This can help alleviate symptoms of fatigue while helping control diabetes-related symptoms such as blurry vision.

3) Poor Sleep Habits

It’s no secret that bad sleeping habits can wreak havoc on your health. But did you know that sleep loss is a leading cause of type 2 diabetes? People who are deprived of sleep have high levels of blood glucose, which can lead to insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes is caused by poor diet and lack of exercise, but poor sleep habits make these problems worse. Even if you don’t have type 2 diabetes, lack of sleep might be a good reason to see a doctor about possible issues with your metabolism. If lifestyle changes fail to correct underlying conditions such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), pharmacologic treatment will be needed. This can be achieved through oral medication or even through intramuscular injections of glucagon in situations where hypoglycemia cannot otherwise be treated quickly enough or at all orally due to unconsciousness or vomiting.

4) Misdiagnosis

Diabetes can be misdiagnosed, sometimes with devastating consequences. In fact, it’s estimated that half of all diabetics go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for up to a decade before getting treatment. If you have diabetes symptoms, make sure to visit your doctor and get an official diagnosis. If your doctor says you don’t have diabetes, but your results indicate otherwise—don’t give up! Get a second opinion from another endocrinologist or general practitioner who is familiar with your case. The key is catching diabetes early before it gets worse; once sugar has damaged blood vessels, small complications like vision loss and heart disease begin to develop and become far more complicated (and costly) problems to treat. That’s why it’s so important to know if you have diabetes.

The best way to prevent Type 2 is by avoiding conditions that trigger insulin resistance, like obesity and inactivity.

5) Not Realizing Its Effects on The Body

Diabetes can affect nearly every organ in your body, but many type 2 diabetics are completely unaware of its impact. As glucose levels build up in your bloodstream, your risk for heart disease, vision problems, and other serious complications increases. Watch for signs that indicate you may have type 2 diabetes—such as excessive thirst or hunger—and seek medical help immediately if you notice any of these symptoms. You should also see a doctor if you’re obese, over 30 years old, a man who has been diagnosed with low testosterone levels (hypogonadism), or an adult woman who has delivered a baby within the past six months. Remember to schedule annual physicals with your doctor.