Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease in which the body fights insulin resistance. This means that the body’s cells are resistant to the insulin secreted by the pancreas, and as a result, sugar (glucose) cannot enter the cells for energy. Therefore, your blood sugar levels stay high. If type 2 diabetes is not treated, complications can occur. These complications include heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, and eye damage, to name a few.

Like any other disease, there are modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. These describe the factors that affect your risk for disease and related complications; some you can control and some you can’t.

Non-modifiable risk factors:

â— Family history

â— Age

â— Ethnicity

â— Socioeconomic situation

Modifiable risk factors:

â— Diet and nutrition

â— Physical activity

â— Poorly controlled blood glucose levels

â— High blood pressure

â— High cholesterol levels

â— Smoking cigarettes

Lifestyle choices have a major influence on type 2 diabetes and its complications. You can get that much closer to health with every bite you eat or with every step you take! Here are 5 ways to reduce your risk of diabetes complications.

5 ways to reduce your risk of diabetes complications:

1. Balance your plate with nutritious foods and learn how many carbohydrates your body can process in one meal. There is no eating plan for diabetes. It is very important that your diet is individualized for you.

2. Increase your physical activity. Start small and build up to your goal. Physical activity helps decrease insulin resistance and increase insulin sensitivity so that the doors of your cells open and accept sugar.

3. Take medications as prescribed. Set reminders on your phone to remind you to take your medications at the prescribed time.

4. Stop smoking. If you smoke, talk to your doctor about the best way to quit.

5. Check your blood glucose. Self-monitoring your blood glucose allows you to see what is working and what is not working in your diabetes care plan. It gives you data so you can make adjustments with your diabetes care team.

6. Meet with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) who is also a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) to help you learn about self-management of your diabetes.

1. An RDN who is also an expert in diabetes care and education will give you the support you need to take charge of your diabetes.

You can live a long and healthy life with diabetes. You have the power within you to make lifestyle changes that will reduce the risk of complications.