Type 2 Diabetes Management

Diabetes management is about how lifestyle, daily routine and technology can affect blood glucose levels of someone with type 2 diabetes. Keeping blood glucose levels in range improves the health of someone with diabetes and prevents long-term complications or short-term risks that come with blood sugars out of range.

Diabetes can affect every part of the body and blood sugar control is dependent on many varying factors such as environment, stress and hormones. No one formula works for everyone and so through trial and error, along with the application of new technology, those with type 2 can have improved diabetes management.

Become well-versed in the basics of diabetes care that includes how to administer insulin and what is an A1C test. Discover what affects your blood sugar control on a daily basis, how to better manage and teach others about what having type 2 is really like.

When it comes to diabetes management, there’s a lot to consider regarding equipment. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the different gadgets and manufacturers; it’s time-consuming to keep up with the newest technology and medical advancements. Beyond Type 2 is searching out what tools are available and asking what people think of them—we have guides and feedback from other type 2s that will help you make more informed decisions in your care. We’re also talking to the leading developers of cutting-edge equipment and platforms that make the day-to-day management of this disease easier and more efficient.

We’re looking forward to the ground-breaking innovators in science to learn about the possibilities of a cure. Here’s the pulse on the biotech world and what it means for type 2.

The Basics Equipment Info Your Healthcare Team All About Insulin Type 2 Diabetes Guides Complications Food

The Basics

Glossary

Learn the lingo with our comprehensive glossary, a resource designed to demystify the complex terminology surrounding diabetes and related health...

Just Diagnosed with Diabetes? Here’s Who You Need on Your Team

Editor’s Note: People who take insulin require consistently affordable and predictable sources of insulin at all times. If you or...

How to Get the Best Use Out of Your Test Strips

Trying to manage type 2 diabetes without checking your blood sugar is like going on a journey without a map....

All About SGLT-2s

If we thought of type 2 diabetes as a puzzle, we would see that each of the pieces is just...

Ask a DCES: What Can I Eat?

After a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, one of the most common questions asked is: what can I eat? Diabetes can change the...

Ask a DCES: How Can I Feel More Comfortable at the Doctor’s Office?

Do you ever wish you could ask a diabetes care and education specialist (DCES) anything about type 2 diabetes? In...

Equipment Info

Finding Peace of Mind

Jill Harrison teaches early childhood education at a community college in Auburn, Michigan, and is the mom to three children:...

The Guide to DIY Looping

If you’ve been keeping up with the latest news in the diabetes sphere, you may be familiar with the #wearenotwaiting...

The Medical ID Guide

If the situation ever arises, wearing a medical ID can make sure that you receive the attention and care you...

How to Give an Insulin Pen Injection

Injections can seem intimidating at first, but practice makes perfect. Whether you are learning to inject for the first time using...

How Do I Safely Get Rid of My Sharps?

Scrap the Sharps Part of living with type 1 is dealing with the mess it creates: getting continuous glucose monitors...

Test Strip Subscription Guide

Note: This is part of our library of resources in Tools & How-to. Learn more about equipment and read personal reviews here. This list...

Your Healthcare Team

What to Expect at Your First Appointment with a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist

This content was created in partnership with the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists. Type 2 diabetes management often requires...

What is an Ophthalmologist?

Eye care is an important component of diabetes management to prevent retinopathy, a condition that can lead to blindness and one...

What is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)?

“Don’t eat beets and carrots. They’re loaded with sugar.” “My aunt takes cinnamon every day. It is very good for...

What is an Endocrinologist?

Shortly after your diagnosis, your doctor may have referred you to a diabetes specialist, or an endocrinologist. Endocrinologists specialize in...

Becoming a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist

So you want to be a diabetes care and education specialist? Diabetes care and education specialists (DCES) work with people...

What is a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (DCES)?

A key member of the diabetes care team, a diabetes educator is a health professional who helps people with diabetes...

All About Insulin

The Differences Between Biosimilar, Human and Analog Insulins

Editor’s Note: People who take insulin require consistently affordable and predictable sources of insulin at all times. If you or...

What is Sliding Scale Insulin Therapy?

Sliding scale insulin therapy has been around since the 1930s. It continues to work today for many people with diabetes,...

Inhaled Insulin: Myths Vs. Facts

This resource on inhaled insulin was made possible with support from MannKind (makers of Afrezza® (insulin human) Inhalation Powder). Beyond...

Ask a CDCES: Why Should I Change My Insulin Injection Sites?

It can be easy to get into the habit of using the same area to inject insulin. But for a...

Insulin Access in a Pandemic: An Interview with Wade Neucks of Lilly Diabetes

Editor’s Note: For many of us living with diabetes, there is concern about how COVID-19 will affect the production of...

How Insulin Works

Did you just start insulin for the first time? Your doctor probably gave you a brief explanation of what insulin...

Type 2 Diabetes Guides

A Beginner’s Guide to Thriving with Diabetes Now Available—For Free

Beyond Type 1 has introduced A Beginner’s Guide to Thriving with Diabetes—a core resource in its Beyond Diagnosis initiative. A...

Why Blood Glucose Levels Matter Even When You Don’t Take Insulin

Blood glucose levels (BGLs) are a very important measure for people who have diabetes or prediabetes, but it can get...

Diabetes Holiday Gift Guide

Gone are the days of gifting sugar-free candies that sit untouched until next year. This year give your loved ones...

Guide: How to find LGBTQ-affirming healthcare

Everyone should have access to affirming, supportive doctors and healthcare professionals. Unfortunately, knowledgeable, gender-affirming and LGBTQ-friendly medical care isn’t always...

The Type 2 Diabetes Beach Guide

Thinking of escaping the heat and hitting the beach this summer? We certainly don’t blame you … AND we’ve totally...

Medication Options for Type 2 Diabetes

There are so many treatment options for type 2 diabetes today—it can be a little overwhelming. But there is no...

Complications

Family and Diabetes Complications

We know nobody likes to talk or read about complications, however, managing your diabetes will help you prevent or delay...

It’s Time to Reframe the Conversation Around Diabetes Complications

Whether you have been recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) or have been managing it for a long time,...

Did Your Doctor Order Blood Work? We Break Down These Common Lab Tests

Life with Diabetes Complications: I Wish I’d Known This Would Happen

The unfortunate truth: having diabetes can significantly increase your risk of developing other health conditions. While some potential diabetes complications...

Living With Type 2 Diabetes + Complications: “I am a person first”

The scary truth is that having diabetes can significantly increase your risk for additional health problems. From heart disease to...

Double Diagnosis: Type 2 Diabetes + Common Complications

If the day of your type 2 diagnosis came with the discovery of one or several diabetes-related complications, you’re not...

Food

How This Foodie Changed Her Diet After Being Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes

Editor’s note: This story is about a young woman who was able to stop taking insulin after making changes in...

Granola, is it a Healthy Choice?

Most people think of granola as a healthy breakfast food and it’s certainly marketed that way—with claims of being a...

Caffeine and Type 2 Diabetes

Have you ever noticed a difference in your blood sugar after drinking a cup of coffee or tea? You aren’t...

The Vegetarian Diet and Type 2 Diabetes

What is a Vegetarian Diet? A vegetarian diet is a nutritional approach that eliminates meat including but not limited to...

Glycemic Index and Type 2 Diabetes

The glycemic index (GI) is a scale that tells you which carbohydrate sources of food raise your blood sugar higher and faster...

Good Nutrition vs Dieting

What is a diet? For many, the word “diet” conjures up images of denying ourselves the food we actually want...