Type 2 Diabetes: What Is It?
Type 2 diabetes strikes people of all ages, and early symptoms are subtle. In fact, about one out of three people with type 2 diabetes don't know they have it. Diabetes is a chronic condition that thwarts the body's ability to change food into energy. This allows sugar levels to build up in the blood, which can increase the risk of heart disease, loss of vision, and other serious complications.
Type 2 Diabetes
In diabetes, the cells cannot absorb glucose properly. That means glucose levels in the blood become elevated. With insulin resistance, the body makes excess insulin but the muscle, liver, and fat cells do not use or respond properly to insulin. With long-standing, uncontrolled type 2 diabetes the pancreas will reduce the amount of insulin it produces.
Diabetes Warning Sign: Infections
In most cases, type 2 diabetes is not discovered until it takes a noticeable toll on health. One red flag is troubling infections, such as:
Cuts or sores that are slow to heal.
Frequent yeast infections or urinary tract infections.
Itchy skin, especially in the groin area.
Risk Factors You Can Control
Being overweight, defined as a body mass index (BMI) over 25.
Sedentary lifestyle.
Abnormal cholesterol and blood fats, such as HDL "good" cholesterol lower than 35 mg/dL or a triglyceride level over 250 mg/dL.
High blood pressure greater than 140 /90 in adults.
Smoking.
Risk Factors You Can't Control
Race or ethnicity: Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans, and Asians have a higher than average risk.
Family history of diabetes: Having a parent or sibling with diabetes boosts your risk.
Age: Being 45 and older increases your risk of type 2 diabetes.
The more risk factors you have, the greater your odds of developing type 2 diabetes.
Managing Diabetes: Exercise
Moderate exercise, such as strength training or walking, improves the body's use of insulin and can lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Being active also helps reduce body fat, lower blood pressure, and protect against heart disease. People with type 2 diabetes should try to get 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week.
Managing Diabetes: Stress Reduction
Stress can cause blood pressure to rise. Or you may turn to food to cope. Both are bad when living with diabetes. Instead of letting stress take its toll, try practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or visualization. Sometimes talking to a friend, family member, counselor, or member of the clergy can help. If you're still battling stress, reach out to your doctor.
Managing Diabetes: Oral Medication
When people with type 2 diabetes are unable to control blood sugar sufficiently with diet and exercise, medication may be added. There are many types of diabetes pills available, and they are often used in combination. Some work by stimulating the pancreas to make more insulin, and others improve the effectiveness of insulin, or block the digestion of starches.
Long-Term Damage: Kidneys
The longer you have diabetes, the greater the risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Controlling risk factors such as uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol reduces your risk of developing this complication. Annual screening for kidney disease and medications, which slow the development and progression of kidney disease, are used to reduce your risk of kidney failure.
Long-Term Damage: Eyes
High blood sugar can damage the tiny blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to the retina, a critical part of the eye. This is known as diabetic retinopathy, and it can cause progressive, irreversible vision loss. It is the leading cause of blindness in people between the ages of 20 and 60. Pools of blood, or hemorrhages, on the retina of an eye are visible in this image.
Long-Term Damage: Nerve Pain
Uncontrolled diabetes, and elevated blood sugars over time, increases the risk of nerve damage. Symptoms include tingling, numbness, pain, and a pins and needles feeling in the fingers, hands, toes and feet . Nerve damage (neuropathy) can't be reversed but treatments may help pain and numbness. Nerve damage can also affect other parts of your body such as your digestive system. Controlling your diabetes can help prevent further damage.
Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
One of the most astonishing things about type 2 diabetes is that such a life-altering condition is often preventable. To lower your risk, follow the same guidelines for warding off heart disease:
Eat a healthy diet
Exercise for 30 minutes, five days a week
Maintain a healthy weight
Talk to your doctor about being screened for prediabetes
In people with prediabetes, lifestyle changes and medication can help prevent the progression to type 2 diabetes.
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