Learn this about type 2 diabetes

by Specialist

As a lifelong disease, diabetes affects the way the body processes glucose, a type of sugar in the blood.

Most people with diabetes are type 2 diabetics. About 27 million people in the United States have diabetes, and another 86 million are pre-diabetic – people whose blood sugar is abnormal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes.

What are the triggers of diabetes?

The pancreas produces a hormone called insulin, which allows cells to convert ingested food into energy. in people with type 2 diabetes, the pancreas still produces insulin normally, but the cells cannot use it properly, which doctors call insulin resistance.

At this point, the pancreas produces more insulin to try to get glucose into the cells, which can eventually lead to a decline in the pancreas’ ability to produce insulin and a buildup of sugar in the blood.

Usually type 2 diabetes is caused by a number of things.

  • Genes: Scientists have identified several different DNA segments that affect the way the body produces insulin.

  • Obesity: Being overweight or obese can lead to insulin resistance, especially in people with a lot of waist and abdominal fat. The current prevalence of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents is similar to that in adults and is largely associated with childhood obesity.

  • Metabolic syndrome: People with insulin resistance usually have a group of symptoms that include high blood sugar, waist and abdominal fat accumulation, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high triglycerides.

  • Liver releases too much glucose: When the body’s blood sugar levels are low, the liver synthesizes and releases glucose. After eating, blood glucose levels rise, at which point the liver stops synthesizing glucose and stores it for use when needed. However, some people have abnormalities in their liver and continue to produce large amounts of sugar regardless of whether the body needs it or not.

  • Signaling problems between cells: Sometimes cells send the wrong signals or don’t receive regulatory information like hormones correctly. When these problems occur in cells that produce and use insulin or glucose, the chain reaction can lead to diabetes.

  • Beta cell abnormalities: If the cells that produce insulin release the wrong amount of insulin at the wrong time, the body’s blood sugar levels can be disrupted. High blood sugar in turn can damage these cells.

Risk factors and prevention

Some factors, while increasing the chance of developing diabetes, do not necessarily cause it. If these factors are not prevented, the chances of developing diabetes are significantly higher.

Some are factors that cannot be controlled.

  • Age: 45 years or older;

  • Family: One parent or one sibling has diabetes;

  • Race.

Some factors are related to health history and medical history and can be adjusted with the help of a doctor:

  • Pre-diabetes;

  • Heart and vascular disease;

  • hypertension, even if treated or blood pressure is under control;

  • Low HDL cholesterol (i.e., low “good” cholesterol);

  • high triglycerides;

  • Overweight or obese;

  • A newborn weighing more than 4 kg;

  • Previous gestational diabetes at the time of pregnancy;

  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS);

  • Acanthosis nigricans, a skin condition with symptoms of a black rash on the neck or armpits;

  • Depression.

There are also risk factors related to daily habits and lifestyles that one can control or change:

  • Insufficient exercise;

  • Smoking;

  • Stress;

  • Lack of or too much sleep.

Since you can’t change what happened in the past, start now by changing your bad habits and ways of living. Take your medications on time and follow your doctor’s health advice. Making small changes in your daily life can also make a big difference.

  • Lose weight: Losing 7% to 10% of your body weight can cut your chances of developing type 2 diabetes in half.

  • Exercise: Muscular exercise burns insulin. Just 30 minutes of brisk walking a day can reduce your chances of developing the disease by about a third.
  • Exercise.
  • Healthy diet: Avoid overly processed carbohydrates, sugary drinks, trans fatty acids, and saturated fatty acids. Limit your intake of red meat (beef, lamb, etc.) and processed meat products.

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  • Quit smoking: Consult your doctor to learn how to prevent weight gain from quitting smoking and to avoid other health problems caused by quitting.

Symptoms

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes can sometimes be very mild and hard to detect. In fact, about 8 million people have diabetes and don’t know it.

  • Severe thirst;

  • Poor urination;

  • Blurred vision;

  • Irritability;

  • Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet;

  • Feeling of exhaustion;

  • Difficulty in wound healing;

  • Recurrent yeast infections.

Diagnosis

The doctor will perform blood tests to determine if you have diabetes. This is usually done over two days to help finalize the diagnosis. However, if the blood sugar is very high and accompanied by multiple symptoms, one test will confirm the diagnosis.

  • Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c): This reflects the average of blood glucose over the past 2 to 3 months.

  • Fast blood glucose: Measures blood glucose during fasting. No food or drink, except water, should be consumed in the 8 hours before the test.

  • Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT): Blood glucose is checked before and 2 hours after ingestion of a sugary drink to determine how well the body is handling blood glucose.

Long-term effects

Long-term hyperglycemia can cause damage to the following organ tissues or functions:

  • Heart and blood vessels;

  • Kidneys;

  • Eyes;

  • Nerves, which can lead to digestive problems, abnormal foot sensation, and sexual dysfunction;

  • Wound repair;

  • Pregnancy.

For people with diabetes, the best way to avoid complications is to keep your blood sugar under control.

  • Take your diabetes treatment medications or insulin injections on time.

  • Monitor your blood sugar.

  • Eat a healthy, regular diet.

  • See your doctor regularly for early detection of symptoms.