If you have type 2 diabetes, a healthy lifestyle, including diet, exercise and weight control is a very important part of your treatment. You also may need to take oral medications, either a single drug or a combination of drugs. If your type 2 diabetes is not well controlled on oral medications, you may need to take injections of insulin.
Many people with type 2 diabetes also have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The combination of these conditions significantly increases your risk for heart attack and stroke. The American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association recommend that people with type 2 diabetes know their ABCs:
- “A” for HgA1c – a blood test that indicates how well blood sugar is being controlled
- “B” for blood pressure
- “C” for cholesterol, especially LDL, or “bad” cholesterol
Along with your diabetes medications, you may also need to be treated for high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
