Do you have concerns about developing type 2 diabetes? Don’t know about type 2 diabetes causes & its symptoms? Then this article will help you for sure.
Type 2 diabetes is characterized by two distinct problems that are interrelated. It’s possible that your pancreas isn’t making enough insulin, a hormone that helps control how much sugar enters your cells after digestion.
In addition, your cells aren’t reacting properly to insulin, which means they’re taking in a lot fewer calories.
Both children and adults can develop type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes can be controlled by losing weight, consuming healthy foods, and exercising regularly.
Let’s dive deep into the topic!
Table of contents
- What Causes Diabetes Type 2?
- Risk Factors and Symptoms
- Diabetic Type 2 Testing
- Diabetes Management:
- Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents
- How Can You Know If You Have Type 2 Diabetes?
- What Are The Risks of Type 2 Diabetes Complications?
- What Are The Treatment For Type 2 Diabetes?
- Key Points About Type 2 Diabetes
Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disorder characterized by elevated blood sugar levels that can be controlled with proper nutrition, follow-up treatment, and exercise. More than 37 million Americans (about 1 in 10) have diabetes, with 90-95 percent of them having type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is most common in those over 45, but it is increasingly affecting an increasing number of adolescents, teenagers, and young adults.
What Causes Diabetes Type 2?
Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreas that functions as a key to allowing blood sugar into your body’s cells for energy utilization. Insulin resistance occurs when cells in people with type 2 diabetes do not respond appropriately to insulin.
To get cells to respond, your pancreas produces more insulin. When your pancreas can no longer keep up, your blood sugar levels rise, triggering prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. High blood sugar is harmful to the body and can lead to heart disease, vision loss, and renal damage, among other major health issues.
Risk Factors and Symptoms
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes can develop over a period of years and go unnoticed for a long time (in rare cases, there are no symptoms at all).
Among the signs and symptoms are:
- Bladder infections on a regular basis
- Infections of the skin that do not cure quickly
- I’m quite thirsty.
- Peeing frequently
- Loss of weight
- Vision is hazy
- Vomiting and nausea
- I’m exhausted and weak.
- Changes in mood and irritability
- Itchy, dry skin
- Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet
Because symptoms might be difficult to detect, it’s crucial to be aware of the risk factors and to visit your doctor to have your blood sugar checked if you have any.
Some persons with Type 2 diabetes are asymptomatic. You may not notice any symptoms because they are minimal. Half of all diabetics in the United States are unaware of their condition.
Tips
Type 2 diabetes symptoms can mimic those of other illnesses. Consult your doctor to get a diagnosis.
Diabetic Type 2 Testing
If you have diabetes, a simple blood test will reveal it. If you had your blood sugar checked at a health fair or pharmacy, go to a clinic or doctor’s office to double-check the results.
Diabetes Management:
Diabetes is handled mostly by you, with assistance from your health care team (including your primary care doctor, foot doctor, dentist, eye doctor, registered dietitian nutritionist, diabetes educator, and pharmacist), family, and other significant persons in your life. It might be difficult, but whatever you do to enhance your health is worthwhile!
Prescribed Medicines
Your doctor may prescribe insulin, other injectable medications, or oral diabetes medicines to help manage your blood sugar and avoid difficulties.
If you’re using insulin or other medications, you’ll still need to eat well and stay active. It’s also critical to keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels within the ranges advised by your doctor, as well as to have the appropriate screening tests.
Regular Monitoring
You’ll need to monitor your blood sugar levels on a frequent basis. Inquire with your doctor about how often you should check your blood sugar and what your target levels should be. Diabetes-related problems can be avoided or delayed if your blood sugar levels are kept as close to target as feasible.
Manage Stress Wisely
Stress is a natural part of life, but it can make diabetes management more difficult, including controlling blood sugar levels and dealing with day-to-day diabetes care. Physical activity, enough sleep, and relaxation exercises can all assist.
Read More: Is Stress Responsible For Causing Diabetes? How To Deal With It?
Consult & Make A Plan
Discuss these and other stress management options with your doctor and diabetes educator.
Make regular consultations with your healthcare team to ensure that you’re following your treatment plan and, if necessary, to receive assistance with new ideas and techniques.
Meeting with a diabetes educator, whether you’ve recently been diagnosed with diabetes or have had it for a while, is a terrific opportunity to gain support and information, including how to:
- Make a strategy for a healthy diet and physical activity.
Keep track of your blood sugar levels by testing them. - Recognize the symptoms of high or low blood sugar and how to deal with them.
- Give yourself insulin with a syringe, pen, or pump if necessary.
- To spot problems early, keep an eye on your feet, skin, and eyes.
- Purchase diabetes supplies and properly store them.
Manage your stress and take care of your diabetes on a daily basis.
Tips:
Inquire with your doctor about diabetes self-management education and support programs, and have him or her refer you to a diabetic educator or looks up the Association of Diabetes Care.
Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents
Obesity rates in children are rising, as are rates of type 2 diabetes in children. More than 75% of children with type 2 diabetes also have a close family who suffers from the disease. It’s not usually because they’re connected; it could also be because they share specific habits that put them in danger.
Parents can help their children avoid or delay type 2 diabetes by creating a family strategy that includes:
- Increasing the amount of water consumed and reducing the number of sugary beverages consumed.
- Increasing the number of fruits and vegetables consumed.
- Making favorite foods more nutritious.
- Increasing the enjoyment of physical exercise
How Can You Know If You Have Type 2 Diabetes?
Several tests can be used to diagnose diabetes. It’s preferable to run the tests again to double-check the results. The tests include the following:
A1C test for hemoglobin:
The A1C test is what it’s called. It calculates your average blood glucose over the previous two to three months. You have diabetes if your A1C is 6.5 percent or greater. The accuracy of the A1C test can be influenced by a variety of factors. Sickle cell illness, pregnancy, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, HIV, hemodialysis, recent blood loss or transfusion, and erythropoietin therapy are all examples of these situations.
FPG (fasting plasma glucose):
This test measures your blood glucose levels after you’ve fasted for 8 hours. This test is normally done before your first meal of the day. Your fasting blood glucose level is what it’s called. You have diabetes if your result is greater than or equal to 126 mg/dL.
Test for oral glucose tolerance (OGTT)
Your glucose level is assessed before and after you consume a sugary beverage for this test. This demonstrates how efficiently your body handles glucose. After two hours, a value of 200 mg/dL or greater indicates diabetes.
Glucose test at random:
This blood test can be performed at any time of day. You have diabetes if your blood glucose level is 200 mg/dL or greater and you have symptoms of high blood sugar.
To be diagnosed with hyperglycemia if you don’t have any symptoms. You’ll need two abnormal test results from the same sample or two distinct test samples. For example, from the same sample, a fasting plasma glucose of more than 126 and an A1C of more than 6.5 percent.
What Are The Risks of Type 2 Diabetes Complications?
Diabetes that is not effectively managed or controlled might lead to complications. These can include issues such as:
- Kidneys
- Legs
- Feet
- Eyes
- Heart
- Nerves
- Blood flow
This can result in:
- Insufficiency of the heart
- Failure of the kidneys
- Gangrene
- Feet are amputated.
- Blindness
- Stroke
As a result, it’s critical to stick to a tight treatment regimen.
What Are The Treatment For Type 2 Diabetes?
The treatment you receive will be determined by your symptoms, age, and overall health. It will also be determined by the severity of the ailment. Treatment aims to preserve blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible while avoiding dangerously low levels. You’ll need to keep your blood sugar under control to accomplish this. You’ll have to keep an eye on it on a frequent basis.
You might be able to manage your Type 2 diabetes by doing the following:
- Exercise for Weight Loss
- Habits of a healthy diet
However, you may need to take medication or insulin. Some or all of the following treatments may be used:
Increasing your physical activity
Aim for at least 150 minutes of exercise or physical activity every week. Don’t go more than two days without doing something active. Get up every 30 minutes for light activity if you’ve been sitting for a long time.
Meal preparation
You’ll want to consume things that won’t spike your blood sugar too soon. Your healthcare professional will provide you with information on what foods to eat and how to organize your meals around them.
Weight loss
Even if you lose just 5% to 7% of your body weight, it can help. Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss weight-loss options.
Medications
Type 2 diabetes is treated with a variety of medications. To reduce blood sugar, each kind operates in a different way. To enhance your blood sugar control, you may need to take one or more medications.
Taking Insulin
Insulin is being administered. You may need to inject insulin into your body if oral medications don’t work properly for you.
Getting blood tests
Your A1C level will need to be monitored multiple times each year. If your blood sugar level is in the target range and stable, experts recommend monitoring at least twice a year. If your blood sugar level isn’t stable, you’ll require this test more frequently.
Routine healthcare
Keep all of your appointments for routine healthcare. This is so that your doctor can keep track of your diabetes. You should also inspect your feet on a daily basis. This is to see whether there are any injuries, sores, or infections. These can result in serious foot issues.
Key Points About Type 2 Diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes is defined as a condition in which your body cannot produce enough insulin or uses it properly.
- Insulin assists your body’s cells in absorbing glucose for energy. Too much glucose remains in the blood without insulin. This results in high blood sugar levels.
- Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition. There is no recognized treatment for it. Diabetes mellitus is the most frequent form of the disease.
- It is unknown what causes Type 2 diabetes. It usually runs in families.
- Diabetes that isn’t treated or managed properly can lead to major health issues.
- The goal of treatment is to keep your blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible while still avoiding dangerously low levels. You’ll have to keep an eye on your blood sugar levels. You’ll need to do some exercise, manage your meals, and see a doctor on a regular basis.
Prevention is Better Than Cure
So you already know about type 2 diabetes causes & its symptoms, right? Now it’s time to take safety measures.
Diabetes type 2 can impair many of your body’s vital organs, including your kidneys, heart, blood vessels, nerves, and eyes. Moreover, the same risk factors that are associated with diabetes are also associated with the development of other significant chronic illnesses.
Keeping your blood sugar under control and managing your diabetes can help reduce your chance of developing these complications or concurrent diseases.
Stay safe, stay healthy!
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