The most important person caring for your health and type 2 diabetes is you. The choices that you make every day have a huge impact on how you treat your diabetes.
Diabetes can affect many parts of your life. It's important that you learn how to treat and care for your diabetes. This is known as self-management or self-care.
Self-management is a team effort. You will be supported by your doctor, nurse and in some cases a diabetes team. There is a lot of help and support available.
You are the key person in managing your diabetes and will be involved in the decisions about your treatment.
The treatments that work for type 2 diabetes include:
- taking an active role in your care
- eating healthy foods
- being physically active and sitting less
- managing your mental health
- managing your weight
- limiting your alcohol and quitting smoking
- doing a free diabetes support course
- going for regular check-ups
- medicine, if needed
Learn more about the treatments for type 2 diabetes
Making healthy choices will help you feel better. They can also help treat and manage your blood glucose levels, weight, blood pressure and cholesterol.
Diabetes support courses
The HSE supports a number of courses for adults with type 2 diabetes. These courses are free.
They support you to manage your diabetes. Your doctor may recommend you take part in one of them as part of your treatment.
