Quiz: How Well Is Your Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Plan Working?

Living with type 2 diabetes requires ongoing management: being mindful of what you eat, exercising regularly, and monitoring your blood sugar. For most, it also means taking medication as directed. But even when you’re doing everything right, diabetes can change over time. Regularly assessing how well symptoms are being managed is an important part of treatment.

Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong condition that has two core causes: the pancreas not making the right amount of insulin and the body’s cells not taking in glucose (sugar) as they should. “That tends to get worse over time,” says Laurie Kane, MD, an endocrinologist at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage, California. Due to these changes, the diabetes treatment plan you follow may require adjustments over the years to help keep things under control.

Knowing when and if you need to make treatment plan changes can be tricky. Some symptoms, such as blurry vision and losing weight despite eating more, may be more noticeable. Others, such as fatigue and dry eye, are harder to recognize as a sign that it may be time for a treatment change. “Diabetes can be a silent disease,” says Dr. Kane. That’s why it’s important to work with your primary care provider or endocrinologist to monitor it closely. “We really want your numbers at the levels that have been proven in research studies to prevent complications,” she adds.

The most important number to be aware of is your hemoglobin A1C, which measures the average amount of sugar in your blood over the previous 3 months. “A1C is our main measurement to understand your average blood glucose. It’s used to diagnose diabetes and to monitor the effectiveness of treatment,” says Kane. The higher the A1C number, the higher the amount of blood sugar in your body. According to the American Diabetes Association, an A1C below 7 percent is the goal for most adults who have diabetes.

Is your treatment plan for type 2 diabetes working as well as it should to keep these measurements in the healthy range? Take this assessment to find out.

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Additional Sources

What Is the A1C Test? American Diabetes Association.
Juray S et al. Remission of Type 2 Diabetes With Very Low-Calorie Diets–A Narrative Review. Nutrients. June 2021.
Umphonsathien M et al. Immediate and Long-Term Effects of a Very-Low-Calorie Diet on Diabetes Remission and Glycemic Control in Obese Thai Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Food Science & Nutrition. March 2019.
Gower BA et al. Effects of a Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet on β-Cell Response in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. October 2024.
Diabetes, Sexual and Bladder Problems. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. June 2018.
Diabetic Eye Disease. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. May 2017.
Merdin FA et al. Evaluation of Chronic Pruritus and Associated Skin Findings in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus. Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences. October 2023.
Ciardullo S et al. Screening for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Type 2 Diabetes Using Non-Invasive Scores and Association With Diabetic Complications. BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care. February 2, 2020.
Understanding Neuropathy and Your Diabetes. American Diabetes Association.
Kenny HC et al. Heart Failure in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Impact of Glucose-Lowering Agents, Heart Failure Therapies, and Novel Therapeutic Strategies. Circulation Research. January 4, 2019.
Health Checks for People With Diabetes. American Diabetes Association.
What Your Cholesterol Levels Mean. American Heart Association. February 16, 2024.
Weekly Exercise Targets. American Diabetes Association.

Elise M. Brett, MD

Medical Reviewer

Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Elise M Brett, MD, is a board-certified adult endocrinologist. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and her MD degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She completed her residency training in internal medicine and fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism at The Mount Sinai Hospital. She has been in private practice in Manhattan since 1999.

Dr. Brett practices general endocrinology and diabetes and has additional certification in neck ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration biopsy, which she performs regularly in the office. She is voluntary faculty and associate clinical professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She is a former member of the board of directors of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology. She has lectured nationally and published book chapters and peer reviewed articles on various topics, including thyroid cancer, neck ultrasound, parathyroid disease, obesity, diabetes, and nutrition support.

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Erica Patino

Author

Erica Patino is a freelance writer and editor, content strategist, and usability specialist who has worked for a variety of online health outlets, including Healthline, Sharecare, and Twill Care. She was previously a senior editor at Everyday Health. She is also the founder and editor-in-chief of Hear 2 Tell, a website that covers advances in hearing loss treatment. Patino lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and twin sons.

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How Well Is Your Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Plan Working?

Question 1

How have symptoms changed since beginning type 2 diabetes treatment?