Diabetes Type 2
Diabetes type 2 is the common type of diabetes, which affects people. It is a chronic disease characterized by high levels of sugar in the blood. Here, we are going to take a look at this type of diabetes in detail.
Causes of Diabetes type 2:
The type 2 diabetes mainly occurs due to the reaction of body in producing and utilizing insulin. This insulin is required to move the glucose into cells. However, in case of a person suffering from diabetes type 2, the body doesn't respond to insulin. In short, there is an insulin resistance, which means that the liver muscles and fats don’t respond in a normal way to insulin. Due to this, the glucose is not stored in the cells for energy. As a result, this glucose enters the blood and there is a high level of sugar in the blood. This condition is known as hyperglycemia.
Being overweight is one of the common reasons for this type of diabetes. This is mainly because; when a person is overweight there is large amount of fats in the body, which interferes with the normal utilization of insulin by the body. Family history as well as genetics can also lead to diabetes type 2. Apart from these, poor diet, low activity levels are also some of the factors, which can lead to type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms of diabetes type 2:
The symptoms of diabetes type 2 occur in a gradual manner and hence it becomes difficult to diagnose the condition. However, a person suffering from type 2 diabetes shows the following symptoms:
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Increased thirst and hunger
- Erectile dysfunction (in men)
- Blurred vision
- Increased appetite
- Slow healing infections
Tests to diagnose diabetes type 2:
There are various blood tests that help to test type 2 diabetes. Some of these include:
Hemoglobin A1c test: Though used in the past to diagnose type 2 diabetes, this test is one of the best to identify whether a person is at the pre-diabetes stage.
Oral Glucose Tolerance test: This is one of the most glucose tolerant tests, which takes up to 3 hours. In this, a person is asked to drink a liquid containing glucose and blood is tested after every 30-60 minutes. If the glucose level comes to a high of 200 mg/dl after two hours then the person is said to have developed type 2 diabetes.
Treatment for diabetes type 2:
The main objective of treatment of diabetes is to lower the levels of sugar levels in the blood. For a person suffering from diabetes type 2, it is essential to exercise on a daily basis and follow a proper diet.
Exercising:
Exercising regularly is vital for people suffering from type 2 diabetes. This is because exercising helps to lower the levels of sugar in the blood without the need of taking medications. In addition, exercising on a regular basis also burns the excess fats and calories and helps to maintain weight.
Diet:
A person suffering from diabetes needs to follow a proper diet that is low in fat and calories in rich in fiber content. A good diabetic diet contains good amount of complex carbohydrates such as beans, whole grains and others. A diabetic diet should also include good amount of non-vegetarian food cooked in olive or coconut oil.
Medications to treat Diabetes type 2:
A person suffering from type 2 diabetes has high chances of developing kidney diseases, heart diseases and other medical problems; hence it is necessary for the person to take some medicines that help in prevention of these medical problems. Some of the medications for diabetes type 2 include:
1. Injections, such as pramlinitde, saxagliptin, mitiglinide, exenatide
2. Meglitinides such as repaglinide, which help the pancreas to produce more insulin
3. Biguanides (Metformin) help the liver, fat cells and muscles to absorb glucose from the blood stream thereby helping to reduce the blood sugar levels
4. Oral medications, Sulfonylureas such as the glyburide, and tolazamide, glimepiride also help the pancreas to produce more insulin
It is important to remember that this type of diabetes is chronic and can create many complications. Thus, it is advisable for you to take necessary steps and visit a physician to keep your diabetes under control.
