Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which the body’s ability to control and utilize sugar (glucose) as a fuel is impaired. Too much sugar circulates in the bloodstream as a result of this long-term (chronic) disease. High blood sugar levels can eventually cause problems with the circulatory, neurological, and immunological systems.
There are basically two connected problems at work in type 2 diabetes. Your pancreas does not create enough insulin, a hormone that controls the transport of sugar into your cells, and your cells do not respond well to insulin, resulting in decreased sugar intake.
Type 2 diabetes was previously referred to as adult-onset diabetes, however both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can start in childhood or maturity. Although type 2 diabetes is more common in older persons, an increase in the number of obese youngsters has resulted in an increase in type 2 diabetes incidence among children.
Type 2 diabetes has no cure, but decreasing weight, eating healthily, and exercising can help you manage it. If diet and exercise aren’t adequate to control your blood sugar, diabetes medicines or insulin therapy may be required.
What causes Type 2 diabetes?
Insulin is required for our survival. It serves an important purpose. It permits blood glucose to enter our cells and provide energy to our bodies.
Your body still breaks down carbohydrates from food and drinks and converts it to glucose if you have type 2 diabetes. The pancreas subsequently releases insulin in response to this. However, because this insulin is unable to function correctly, your blood sugar levels continue to rise. More insulin is released as a result of this.
What are the factors that increase your risk?
Some factors can raise your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Because type 2 diabetes symptoms aren’t usually visible, it’s critical to be aware of these risk factors. They may include the following:
- Age: being over 45 years old
- If you suffer from obesity or are overweight
- If you have an excessively big waist
- History of the family. For instance, if you have a diabetic parent, brother, or sister
- Medical background. If you’ve had a history of high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, gestational diabetes, or serious mental illness, for example
- If you’re African Caribbean, Black African, or South Asian and over 25, you’re more at danger (Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi)
What are the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes symptoms can be subtle and easy to overlook for years, until blood sugar levels reach dangerously high levels.
The more obvious these symptoms are, the higher your blood sugar levels increase — particularly when they surge rapidly after a high-carbohydrate meal.
- Increased hunger
- Increased thirst
- Dry mouth
- Headaches
- Frequent urination
- Feeling tired after meals
- Blurred vision
- Losing weight without trying
- Cuts and wounds taking longer to heal
- Genital itching
If you feel you are seeing these symptoms contact your primary care physician and ask to have your blood glucose levels checked.
What are the long-term effects of high blood sugar levels?
The CDC claims, ignoring type 2 diabetes can result in a variety of consequences, all of which are caused by persistently high blood sugar levels.
Working with your healthcare team to enhance your blood sugars and overall health can help you avoid many of these issues.
- Extended wound healing which can lead to infections and amputation
- Retinopathy, which can lead to blindness
- Oral health including gum disease
- Neuropathy in your fingers, legs, feet and toes
- Loss of hair
- Sleep apnea
- Heart conditions
- Stroke
High blood sugar levels are dangerous and can have a long-term and short-term impact on your health. If you suspect your blood sugars are persistently higher than your target range, contact your healthcare provider right away.
What are Type 2 diabetes treatments?
Regardless of whether your type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin shortage or insulin resistance, the treatment paths are largely the same. Keep in mind, however, that some people with type 2 diabetes will likely require medication assistance even if they lose weight and consume a nutritious diet.
Type 2 diabetes medications help you regulate your blood sugar levels while also lowering your risk of complications.
Treatment options include:
- Medication: oral and injections which may include insulin
- Weight loss
- Eating a healthier diet which includes reduction of sugars and carbs
- Being active – increasing exercise and weight training
- Get more sleep and treatment for sleep arena is you suffer from it
- Drink less alcohol
- Quit smoking if you are a smoker
A combination of these treatments will be required for many patients with type 2 diabetes. Because everyone is different, figuring out what works best for you can take some time. The optimal strategy to manage your diabetes should be discussed with you by your diabetic treatment team.
It is possible to avoid taking medicine by adopting lifestyle modifications, but this isn’t the case for everyone.
These lifestyle adjustments are recommended for everyone, including those who do not have diabetes, in order to achieve optimal health. It’s crucial to remember that you don’t have to eat a “perfect” diet or exercise at a high intensity level all of the time for it to make a difference.
Make an effort to follow the 80/20 rule. You make good decisions about eating 80% of the time. And you have room for less-than-perfect pleasures 20% of the time. The idea is to form long-term habits, and only a handful of us can maintain perfection day in and day out!
Whether or if these lifestyle practices allow you to avoid or reduce medication use, they will help you manage your blood sugar and enhance your overall health.
How to eat a healthier diet
To satisfy your health demands, you might adopt a variety of eating patterns and diets.
If you have type 2 diabetes, choose a diet high in nutrient-dense foods to help your body get the fiber, vitamins, and minerals it requires.
A range of heart-healthy fats, such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, should also be included in your diet. These can help you lower your cholesterol levels, which is good for your heart.
Similarly, consuming a variety of high-fiber foods might help manage blood sugar levels and keep you feeling fuller for longer, preventing you from eating when you’re not hungry.
Your diet should also be long-term and simple to follow. Diet programs that are too restricted or don’t fit your lifestyle can be difficult to maintain over time.
Here are some examples according to Healthline of healthy foods to incorporate in your diet:
- Vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini, spinach, and cucumbers.
- Fruits such as oranges, cherries, berries, apples, melons, peaches and pears.
- Whole grains such as oats, brown rice, quinoa, and farro.
- Nuts such as walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, cashews, and pistachios.
- Seeds such as pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, and chia seeds.
- Legumes such as chickpeas, beans, and lentils
- heart-healthy fats such as olive oil, canola oil, sesame oil, and avocados.
- protein-rich foods such as seafood, skinless poultry, red meats (lean cuts), tempeh, and tofu.
- Beverages such as water (lots of it), black coffee, unsweetened tea, and 100% vegetable juice.
Metformin treatment
If diet and exercise alone aren’t enough to keep your blood sugar levels in check, your doctor may prescribe diabetic drugs that lower insulin levels or insulin treatment. The following drugs are used to treat type 2 diabetes.
According to The Mayo Clinic, for type 2 diabetes, metformin is usually the first medicine recommended. It works primarily by decreasing glucose synthesis in the liver and increasing insulin sensitivity, allowing your body to use insulin more efficiently.
Insulin treatment
Although you may not require insulin right away, many people with type 2 diabetes may require it at some point. Remember that you are not to blame if you need to begin insulin treatment.
When persons are first diagnosed, their blood sugar levels are often very high. Insulin can be used as a short-term treatment to assist bring blood sugar levels down quickly.
Some people may require insulin for a specific cause, such as during pregnancy, a serious illness, or following surgery. However, if other medications haven’t helped you regulate your blood sugar levels or aren’t right for you, you may need to start taking insulin.
When you first start taking insulin, you could find that you gain weight. This could be due to a variety of factors, including the amount of insulin you’re taking, your food, and the type of insulin you’re using. If you’re concerned about gaining weight or need assistance decreasing weight.
It’s still critical to follow your checkups and maintain a healthy lifestyle to manage your disease. Staying active and eating a nutritious diet will lower your chance of diabetic problems.
Living with Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is not a death sentence. Changing your eating, sleeping and exercise habits can help you to better control this condition. Make smart choices and don’t ignore the warning signs. Learn about this condition and what will work best for you. Remember, it took a long time for this condition to set in and you wont be able to control it over night. Take small steps and make little changes at first and you will see results. As you get comfortable with the small changes add more changes to your lifestyle. Sooner, rather than later you will see the results of the changes you have made and you will be well on your way to beating Type 2 diabetes, and not letting it beat you.
As a disclaimer: I am not a medical expert. The musing in the above blog are from my experience with, and research on Type 2 diabetes. Any changes in diet and lifestyle should be discussed with your primary physician.
Exactly.
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