Living with your diagnosis - what's next?

Once you are diagnosed, you can start taking steps to get your health under control and avoid serious complications. Take charge of the situation by learning as much as you can about the disease and its management.

What you do next will depend on what stage of type 2 diabetes you are in. In the early stages, or with prediabetes, you may be able to control your blood sugar with a healthier diet and more exercise. However, type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease, so most people will need to move on to GLP-1 or insulin treatment at some point to keep their sugar levels in a healthy range.

Aside from managing the physical aspects of diabetes, it is also important to be aware of the effects of diabetes on your emotional health. Tackling type 2 diabetes head-on can be stressful and overwhelming, and ignoring these negative feelings can make the physical and emotional problems worse. Emotional well-being and physical health are closely connected in diabetes, so it is vital that you take care of both.

• Depression/Anxiety It's normal to feel low occasionally, but persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness need to be addressed as they can prevent good diabetes self-care
• Stress Stress causes your blood sugar levels to rise as your body releases stored glucose supplies into your bloodstream in preparation for 'fight or flight'
• Sleep problems Poor sleeping habits and not getting enough sleep can also negatively impact your blood sugar levels

Getting the support you need from your healthcare team, family and friends is a critical part of managing your diabetes. Remember, reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign that you are proactively taking control of type 2 diabetes.