How type 2 diabetes changes your body

When your pancreas can no longer keep up with the insulin demands to regulate glucose levels, it will show up in a simple blood test used to measure your blood sugar levels. When the test results show that your fasting blood glucose level is above 126 mg/dl, you have type 2 diabetes. And at first, you may not even know it. But left unchecked, type 2 diabetes can do serious damage to your body.

High blood sugar levels associated with type 2 diabetes can damage your circulation, kidney function, and eyesight. Diabetes can also increase your risk for heart disease, stroke, and becoming overweight or obese. Your body uses glucose for energy, but when you have excess glucose, it's programmed to store it as fat often around your belly, hips, thighs, and buttocks. And weight gain only increases your risk for other chronic diseases.

Sugar-sweetened soft drinks, candy and sweets, and refined carbohydrates like white bread, white rice, white pasta, and cereal made from refined grains are frequently linked to the development of type 2 diabetes. These foods are rapidly converted to glucose and place high demands on the pancreas to produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes usually develops over time and is often caused by weight gain and obesity, lack of exercise, and poor nutrition. Take a look at what you've been eating, and what's in your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry. Are you eating a lot of sugary junk foods, and foods made from refined grains? Or are you eating more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and nuts and seeds, shown to help control diabetes?

Combining regular exercise with a healthy diet to achieve a healthy weight is a highly effective way to control the side effects of diabetes. Choosing healthy meals is critical to your health when you have diabetes, and that's why MagicKitchen.com created a complete line of Diabetic-Friendly Meals. Check out the selection of entrees, meal packs, and diabetic-friendly dishes.