TYPE 2 DIABETES
by : Nelia Ngo, B. S. Pharm, CDE, Member – Health Committee, St. Michael’s Parish
Diabetes is an insidious disease with symptoms often overlooked by many, until it is too late. Recognizing
the early signs of diabetes can help you reduce the chance of the disease developing into its more
serious form. Frequently, a simple matter of adjusting a person’s diet and exercise regimen often
prevents the disease from occurring, or at the least, worsening.
Some common symptoms of Type 2 diabetes
Frequent urge to
urinate
Excessive thirst
Excessive
feeling of
hunger
Blurred vision
Nu
mbness or tingling of
extremities
Ex
cessive tiredness &
paleness
Aside from these symptoms, you must also consider factors that predispose a person to Type II Diabetes
 40 years of age or older
 First degree relative with Type II Diabetes
 Member of high risk population (people of Aboriginal, Hispanic, South Asian or African descent)
 Women who developed gestational diabetes
 Presence of complications associated with diabetes
 History of pre-diabetes (e.g., hypertension, high cholesterol, overweight, abdominal obesity)
If you suspect you have diabetes, based on the symptoms and factors above, consider asking your doctor
to screen you for diabetes. Typically, this consists of testing a sample of your blood while fasting.
How to treat mild to moderate hypoglycemia:
Take 15g of fast acting glucose, such as :
 3-4 (15g) glucose tablets, or
 ¾ cup (17 mL) of juice or regular soft drink, or
 6 Life Savers, or
 3 teaspoons or 3 packets of table sugar dissolved in water
Test blood glucose after 15 minutes. Treat again if blood glucose
remains less than 4.0 mmol/L. Have your usual meal, or extra snack
if your meal is more than 1 hour away
Recommended targets for blood glucose control
A1C test shows your average glucose over the past 2-3 months
Targets
A1C
BEFORE MEAL
2 HOURS AFTER MEAL
For most patients
with diabetes
Less than 7.0%
4.0 – 7.0 mmol/L
(5.0 – 8.0 if A1C targets are not
being met)
5.0 – 10.0 mmol/L
Note : Targeted levels should be personalized to an individual to prevent extreme lows and highs in blood
sugar levels (less than 4.0 mmol/L and greater than 14.0 mmol/L, respectively)
PLANNING YOUR MEALS FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES
# of Servings
Fruits and
Vegetable
s
7 to 10
servings
Breakfast Choices
½ cup unsweetened
fruit juice
½ cup blueberries
½ piece grapefruit
½ cup hash browns
1 tbsp jam
Lunch Choice
1 small banana
1 cup leafy greens
(salad)
½ cup carrots,
cucumber, tomato
1 slice rye, white or whole wheat bread
Grains
5 to 8
servings
Milk or
Alternativ
es
2 to 3
servings
Meat or
Alternativ
es
2 to 3
servings
½ small muffin
¼ inch pancake
¼ cup unsweetened
cold cereal
½ cup cooked cereal
½ 6” pita
1 6” tortilla
½ small bagel or English
muffin
Dinner Choices
½ cup mashed potatoes
½ cup beans, lentils,
corn or peas
½ cup sweet potato
6 spears asparagus
17 small grapes
Snack Choices
1 small apple
or orange
3 pieces
graham
cracker
squares
2 small
cookies
½ cup cooked pasta or
rice
½ cup cooked couscous
½ cup cooked quinoa
½ naan
1 small
brownie
2 large rice
cakes
¾ oz pretzels
or chips
1 cup 1% or skim milk, sweetened soy milk
2/3 cup unsweetened or artificially sweetened fatfree yogurt
1.5 oz of lower-fat cheese
2 tbsp peanut butter
2 eggs
2 tbsp peanut butter
½ cup ice cream or
frozen yogurt
3 cups
popcorn
¾ cup tofu
¾ cup cooked legumes
½ cup ice
cream or
frozen yogurt
¼ cup sherbet
2.5 oz cooked or canned fish, shellfish; poultry, lean
meat; deli meat – low-fat & low salt
¼ cup shelled
nuts & seeds
Sources : Canadian Diabetes Association, Joslin Clinic, “Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide”
Counting the Calories Burned during Daily Activities
Walking (moderate pace) , ½ hour
Pushing the lawn mower, ½ hour
Grocery shopping – pushing a cart, ½ hour
Stretch Yoga , ½ hour
Mopping the floor, ½ hour
Car washing, ½ hour
House painting , ½ hour
Raking leaves, ½ hour
Running 5 kilometers in ½ hour
Moving furniture, ½ hour
Stair machine, ½ hour
70
80
100
115
125
140
150
150
165
170
225
250
300
MEDICATION
Dusting, ½ hour
The CORNERSTONES of
GOOD BLOOD GLUCOSE CONTROL
PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY
Folding Laundry, ½ hour
Approx. Calories
DIET or
NUTRITION
Activity
GOOD BLOOD GLUCOSE CONTROL
can reduce
the risk of complications
such as :
Eye disease (retinopathy)
Kidney disease (nephropathy)
Nerve disease (neuropathy)
Heart disease (cardiopathy)