Type 2 Diabetes
Are you or someone you love at risk for type 2 diabetes? In all cases of diabetes, type 2 diabetes is responsible for 90-95 percent of all diagnosed cases.
Type 2 diabetes usually starts with your body resisting the insulin it produces. As your body’s need for insulin becomes more prominent, your body will eventually stop producing any. But to really understand type 2 diabetes, you need to know more about what insulin does for your body.
The Science Behind It
Type 2 Diabetes occurs when either your cells ignore the insulin that your body produces, or your body simply does not produce enough insulin. Without insulin, your body won’t be able to use the glucose produced for the energy it needs to survive. In cases of type 2 diabetes, there is too much of a build up of glucose in your blood and not in your cells.
And because glucose is like the gasoline for the cells in your body, your type 2 diabetes can cause your body to be starved of the energy it needs, and in turn hurt your eyes, kidneys and heart.
The Risk Factors
Although anyone can develop type 2 diabetes, some groups of people are at higher risk. You will find type 2 diabetes more commonly in such cultures as African Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, as well as in the older age groups. In fact, 21% of people over 60 have type 2 diabetes.
Other risk factors for type 2 diabetes include obesity, poor diet, a family history of diabetes, and a history of a metabolic syndrome to name a few. If you present with more than one of these risk factors, set up an appointment to see your doctor.
Furthermore, with today’s fast food and sedentary lifestyle, type 2 diabetes is more evident than ever in children and teenagers. The need for change in nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle is not only for when you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, but even more important in preventing it in the future.
Make sure you take the lives of your children in hand today, and watch what they put in their mouths, and how they spend their days, you will be much happier for it when you cut their risks of type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms
If you’re not sure of what to expect, lets take a look at a few of the symptoms. Although the symptoms of type 2 diabetes tends to come on more gradually than type 1, if at all in some cases, you will still be able to notice them if you do get symptoms.
These symptoms of type 2 diabetes could include increased thirst and hunger, blurred vision, being more tired than usual, and it taking an abnormally long time to heal small wounds or sores. If these symptoms do occur, go and get tested for type 2 diabetes.
However, as mentioned above, not everyone displays symptoms with type 2 diabetes. The only way to then know is by having regular visits to your doctor. With regular check-ups, you will be able to find out early if you have type 2 diabetes, and with early detection come’s easier management of your blood sugars.
Other tests involved with type 2 diabetes include a fasting blood glucose test, and an oral glucose tolerance test.
Living With Type 2 Diabetes
Don’t let being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes weigh your spirits down. Although any serious illness is a scary thing, type 2 diabetes can be managed.
Like anything else in life, with change comes growth. A change in management and routine will help you tackle your type 2 diabetes, as they are the key ingredients to living a longer, healthier, and happier life.
Also like most things, it will take time to settle in to your new routine, and expect to make mistakes. Just take it one day at a time and you will get your type 2 diabetes under control, as well as be able to take back your life.