If you or a loved one has type 2 diabetes, you are not alone. More than 18 million Americans have type 2 diabetes. For many people with type 2 diabetes, controlling blood sugar is a daily struggle. In fact, a report released last year by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists has showed that two thirds of Americans with type 2 diabetes in the study were unable to control their blood sugar. It is important to control your blood sugar because it reduces the risk of serious health problems later. Diabetes can cause heart disease, stroke, blindness, loss of limbs and kidney disease. But now, there is new help to manage type 2 diabetes better. NBC's health and fitness trainer Bob Harper's "The Biggest Loser" and a panel of diabetics has created easy-to-understand and encouraging steps people can take to lower their blood sugar. They are called 6.5 Steps Toward Better Blood Sugar Control. These steps are different because they can easily come into everyday life. “Over the years, I have worked with many people with type 2 diabetes and have seen how difficult it can be to live with the disease,” says Bob Harper. But I learned that anyone can change his life. It’s all about finding the right tools and motivation. I urge people with type 2 diabetes to step up and use 6.5 Steps to make it a part of their daily lives. Steps can help people with type 2 diabetes every day because they focus on the basics of managing diabetes: healthy eating, exercise, monitoring blood sugar and, if appropriate, taking one or more medications. All of these play a role in helping to lower blood sugar. Healthy Eating: Healthy eating reduces the risk of complications such as heart disease and stroke. Good choices include many foods, such as vegetables, grains, fruits, lean dairy products, beans, and lean meats, poultry and fish. There is no perfect diet, but looking at portions to size is a key to healthy eating. Exercise: Regular exercise can lower your blood sugar levels. It can also help control weight and reduce the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. There are a few thing's people with type 2 diabetes can do every day to be active, such as taking a friend or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Blood Sugar Monitoring: There are two blood sugar tests. Another test is a blood sugar test performed by the patients themselves. It gives people with diabetes a blood sugar check during testing. Another is called the A1C test. The A1C test shows a person's blood sugar levels in the last two to three months. Experts say that the ideal A1C target is 6.5 percent or less for most people with type 2 diabetes. Medications: Many people with type 2 diabetes take medication to help control blood sugar levels. Many need more than one medication to help treat the disease in various ways. For people with type 2 diabetes, it is important that they meet with their doctor or other health professional and think of them as partners. They should work with their health care team to create a system to control their blood sugar.
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