What is Type 2 Diabetes?
Most of us know what diabetes
is. But did you know that there were different types of diabetes? Type 2
diabetes is a kind of diabetes that strikes a person after a certain age. It is
also called non insulin dependent diabetes, as usually it can be controlled by
a healthy lifestyle. But with childhood obesity on the increase, there have
been an increasing occurrence of this kind of diabetes in people who are
younger. Type 2 diabetes has been found to be linked to obesity.
What causes Type 2 diabetes?
When a person gets affected
by Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas starts producing insufficient amounts of
insulin. Insulin is the hormone that controls the blood glucose levels in an
individual. The body also builds up something called insulin resistance. It is
a Catch 22 situation as insulin resistance increases obesity as the body does
not use its sugar sufficiently to produce energy. On the other hand, the body
becomes sluggish and it is difficult for a person to lose weight.
What are symptoms of Type 2 diabetes?
This kind of diabetes causes
a number of symptoms that can include some or all of the following.
·
The person is
excessively thirsty
·
Urine output becomes
more
·
Fatigue
·
Skin ailments
·
Scratchiness
·
Allergies
Preventing Type 2 diabetes
As ever, prevention is better
than cure. You can prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes by following a few
simple tips.
·
Make sure that you
exercise regularly
·
Make sure that you eat
healthy food
·
Eat at regular times
·
Prevent substance
abuse
·
Lead a healthy
lifestyle
Sometimes Type 2 diabetes is
hereditary, and even with following a healthy lifestyle a person can succumb to
this illness.
Controlling your diabetes
The most important part of
diabetes control is controlling your sugar levels. This may mean dietary and
lifestyle changes. Your doctor and nutritionist will be able to help you figure
this out. They may also ask you to have some kind of exercise plan to help.
For some sufferers of Type 2
diabetes, treatment with dietary changes and tablets is not entirely effective
for diabetes management, and they may then need insulin injections.
Help for people who suffer from diabetes
In earlier days, people had
to visit the doctor often to keep track of their diabetes. But these days there
are a number of ways in which you can check your own diabetes. There are
devices available that allow a person to check their own sugar levels every
day. There are applications that will help you keep track of the food that you
are eating, and the exercise that you are doing.
But of course no app can take
the place of a regular visit to the doctor. These apps are to help you manage
your everyday lifestyle. You should record your routine carefully and take it
along with you when you see a doctor. The doctor will be able to tell you what
you are doing right and what you are doing wrong. A regular visit to a
nutritionist is also important as they will make sure that you are having a
balanced diet, and not missing out on important nutrients while trying to
manage your weight and your diabetes. Counseling is also a good idea when
dealing with diabetes, as this can be a frustrating journey. Dealing
with diabetes on an everyday basis is not easy and getting counseled
will help. Your family should also accompany you for the counseling as they
will be part of your support group.
With a little care and
effort, you should be able to cope with diabetes effectively.
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