In Estonia, diabetes has been diagnosed in about 70,000 people who require daily and continuous treatment. Type 2 diabetes is a sneaky disease, which, at the time of discovery, has often already caused irreversible damage to the body.
Next, we will take a closer look at what type 2 diabetes is and how to control the disease that has already developed? But most importantly, – is it possible to prevent the development of the disease?
What is diabetes?
Diabetes, also known as sugar disease, is a chronic disease characterized by prolonged elevated blood sugar levels and disturbances in carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism.
Diabetes occurs when the pancreas is no longer able to produce enough insulin or cannot use it as effectively as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body’s cells absorb glucose circulating in the blood, which is an essential source of energy for cell activity.
Different forms of diabetes
Diabetes has several different forms, but they all share a common feature, which is a disruption of energy metabolism, manifested as elevated blood sugar levels. There are four types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
- Secondary diabetes (caused by, for example, pancreas damage)
- Gestational diabetes
What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is hereditary and an autoimmune disease. Type 1 diabetes is often developed during childhood or adolescence, when the cells of the pancreas are destroyed and no longer produce insulin. As a result, glucose cannot enter the cells and accumulates in the blood.
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease where the pancreas does produce insulin, but in insufficient amounts or with weak efficacy. This results in glucose accumulation in the blood. Type 2 diabetes is most often developed in adulthood. Type 2 diabetes is referred to as a lifestyle disease because the affected person is usually overweight and has high blood pressure and cholesterol.
What is a normal blood sugar level?
A healthy person has a normal blood sugar level of up to 6 mmol/l on an empty stomach and no more than 7.8 mmol/l two hours after a meal. In diabetes, this level is higher than normal. Very high blood sugar is persistently over 10 mmol/l.
Diabetes is diagnosed through a fasting blood sugar test, a glucose tolerance test, or an HbA1c test. Before a fasting blood sugar or glucose tolerance test, you must refrain from eating or drinking for 12 hours.
What are the risk factors for type 2 diabetes?
- Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:
- Overweight and obesity, especially in the abdominal area
- Low physical activity
- Hereditary factors
- Age
- Prediabetes
- Gestational diabetes
- Large birth weight of the child over 4 kg
What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a serious disease that can cause irreversible complications if left untreated. The symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly and can appear in various ways. Therefore, type 2 diabetes may go unnoticed for years.
Get your blood sugar level checked if you are over 40 years old, overweight, and have low physical activity. The main symptoms of type 2 diabetes are:
- Constant thirst and dry mouth
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue and weakness
- Constant hunger
- Unexpected weight loss
- Slow-healing wounds
- Frequent infections
- Blurred vision
Why should diabetes be treated?
It is important to know that type 2 diabetes cannot be cured. The goal of diabetes treatment is to keep the disease under control, prevent complications associated with diabetes, and ensure the remission of symptoms and a good quality of life for the patient.
The basis for treating type 2 diabetes is always a lifestyle change. A healthy diet, weight reduction, oral medication, and, if necessary, insulin therapy help maintain blood sugar levels at the proper level.
What are the complications of type 2 diabetes?
If left undiagnosed, type 2 diabetes can cause serious complications as persistently high blood sugar secretly damages all organ systems.
High blood sugar can cause the following damage:
- Slowed healing of wounds and cuts
- Frequent skin abscesses
- Damage to the retina and vision
- Frequent bladder infections
- Kidney failure
- Nerve damage in the hands and feet
The only way to prevent complications from type 2 diabetes is to maintain blood sugar levels within a proper range. Treatment usually involves lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, regular physical activity, and weight loss. Medication is often necessary.
Know that it is important to regularly monitor your blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes to avoid complications.
- Blood sugar levels should be checked at least twice a year to measure the 3-month average blood sugar (HbA1c)
- It is also important to visit an ophthalmologist once a year to check for possible eye damage caused by diabetes
Diabetes and Eyes
Diabetes damages the blood vessels in the retina of the eye and causes impaired vision. The resulting damage is called diabetic retinopathy, which can occur in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. By the time of diagnosis, changes in the eye background are found in one in five patients with type 2 diabetes.
The better the control of high blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure, the lower the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetes and Kidneys
Diabetes also damages blood vessels in the kidneys. As a result, the normal regulation of blood flow, urine formation, and the filtering and cleansing function of the kidneys is impaired.
Diabetic nephropathy is more likely to occur in people who have had diabetes for a long time. Often, diabetes has lasted for 10-20 years by this point. Therefore, diabetic nephropathy is more common in older people and less frequent in younger individuals.
Diabetes and Feet
Diabetes damages nerve endings, which prevents the sensation of pain when you injure your foot. For this reason, people with diabetes are advised not to walk barefoot outside.
Diabetes also leads to poor blood circulation in the feet, weakening resistance to infections. Injuries and wounds heal more slowly. As a result, any infection or ulcer on the feet can become a serious problem. Diabetes is the leading cause of lower limb amputations.
Recommendations for Type 2 Diabetes
A person can do a lot for themselves by keeping their blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure levels under control. Additionally, weight loss can significantly improve the results of diabetes treatment. Therefore, people with diabetes need regular monitoring.
Diabetics need daily vitamins and minerals that support normal blood sugar levels, vision, and metabolism. Such supplements include chromium, bitter melon extract, choline, silymarin, B vitamins, zinc, Vitamin D, and magnesium.
Can Diabetes Be Prevented?
Changing your lifestyle is a big step towards preventing diabetes, and it’s never too late to start. The main cause of type 2 diabetes is unhealthy eating and lack of physical activity, which ultimately leads to weight gain and obesity. Therefore, we can say that type 2 diabetes is a disease caused by a poorly chosen lifestyle.
The most important factors in preventing type 2 diabetes are:
- Healthy and regular eating
- Sufficient physical activity
- Maintain a normal body weight
- Quit smoking
- Sleep at least 7 hours per night
- Regular health check-ups
What Does a Healthy Lifestyle Provide in the Case of Type 2 Diabetes?
Following a healthy lifestyle is important for everyone, but it is especially important for people with type 2 diabetes. In the case of type 2 diabetes, a healthy lifestyle helps reduce complications associated with the disease, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and vision loss.
A healthy lifestyle includes:
- Proper nutrition
- Regular physical activity
- Weight loss
Studies have shown that a 10-20% weight loss can significantly improve blood sugar levels and reduce insulin requirements by up to half.
In addition, physical activity helps improve blood sugar levels, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and reduce body weight.
Proper nutrition is also important to maintain blood sugar control. Diabetics should eat regularly and prefer healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat meat products, and whole grains. Additionally, diabetics should avoid processed foods, sugary drinks, and fatty foods.
Take responsibility and rely primarily on yourself. Doctors can no longer cure you of type II diabetes!
