If you have type 2 diabetes, you likely already work with a healthcare team to manage your blood sugar levels with medication, monitoring, and dietary changes. But type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, which means the treatment methods that once worked well may lose their effectiveness.
“The mechanics behind what causes the progression of diabetes is complex, but one key factor is insulin resistance,” says Omar El Kawkgi, MD, an endocrinologist with University of Kentucky HealthCare in Lexington. With diabetes, he says, “The body builds a tolerance to [the hormone] insulin, making it less effective at reducing blood sugar; when this happens, more insulin is needed to control blood sugar.” This means people with diabetes may find it harder to manage their condition over time and need to take more medications as it progresses.
That’s where healthy lifestyle habits come in, Dr. El Kawkgi says. Managing your weight, eating a nutritious diet, and exercising regularly can sometimes keep diabetes from progressing.