diabetes type 2:signs causes and remedies

What is diabetes type 2?

When the body fails to utilise insulin effectively and progressively stops producing enough insulin, type 2 diabetes develops. The hormone insulin regulates the level of glucose in the blood. The body's cells may use the glucose created by the digestion of carbs when it is transported from the blood into the cells with the aid of insulin.

The body's cells do not react well to insulin in type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance is the term for this. Due to the retention of glucose in the blood, there is an elevated level of glucose in the blood (known as hyperglycaemia).

What distinguishes type 1 from type 2 diabetes?

People with type 1 diabetes produce little to no insulin because the immune system of the body has killed the cells that produce it. Auto-immune diseases include type 1 diabetes.

Early on in type 2 diabetes, the body may produce adequate insulin, but it doesn't work as it should. The pancreas gradually loses its capacity to produce adequate insulin as type 2 diabetes worsens. Type 2 diabetes is linked to hereditary risk factors as well as behavioural risk factors such being overweight or obese, eating poorly, and not getting enough exercise.

Describe pre-diabetes.

Pre-diabetes is characterised by blood sugar levels that are elevated but not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes. A person with pre-diabetes is at a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes if they don't make lifestyle adjustments.

What are type 2 diabetes's initial signs and symptoms?

A lot of patients with type 2 diabetes do not initially exhibit any symptoms, and they may go years without receiving a diagnosis. If they do, these might be some of them:

being extremely thirsty, urinating more frequently, feeling worn out and hungry, and experiencing slowly healing cuts

Diabetes problems over time may result in additional symptoms.

Pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes can be identified with blood glucose monitoring before complications develop.

Why does type 2 diabetes occur?

Type 2 diabetes is not known to have a specific aetiology. However, the following are risk factors for type 2 diabetes:

being overweight or obese, especially with excess weight around the waist, having low levels of physical activity, eating poorly, being over 55 years old for women, having had gestational diabetes, having polycystic ovary syndrome, and having given birth to a baby weighing more than 4.5 kg.

Type 2 diabetes is more prevalent in several demographic groups, including:

People of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who are also from the Pacific Islands, Southern Europe, or Asia

Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes:

You'll likely need a blood test to measure your glucose level if your doctor suspects you have diabetes. Regardless of the type of diabetes, type 1 or type 2, early diagnosis is crucial. By doing so, complications can be prevented or reduced and the condition can be better controlled.

Blood is drawn from a vein during the test and submitted to a pathology lab. The possible tests consist of:

a fasting blood glucose test, which requires the subject to go without food or liquids for at least eight hours (except water) overnight

a blood glucose test, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and a sugary beverage are all performed after an eight-hour period of fasting.

How is diabetes type 2 treated?

The initial line of treatment for type 2 diabetes is lifestyle modifications, however medication is frequently required as well. It also entails receiving guidance from your doctor as you learn how to manage and watch your diabetes.

adjustments in lifestyle for type 2 diabetes

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial to controlling type 2 diabetes since it can postpone or reduce medication use and help avoid complications. The suggestions are:

maintain a balanced diet

get some exercise, lose weight if you're overweight or obese, and give up smoking.

Limit your alcohol intake.

drugs to treat type 2 diabetes

There are many different types of diabetes drugs, and they all control blood sugar in somewhat different ways. If you have diabetes, it might alter over time, which means your prescriptions could need to change as well. For instance, you could require multiple medications to manage your blood sugar levels. In order to manage their disease, some type 2 diabetics may eventually require insulin.

If you have type 2 diabetes, you can sign up for the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) for free to have access to a variety of tools, services, and discounted diabetes supplies. Visit Diabetes Australia for resources and information.

Optimal diet for type 2 diabetes

You can get guidance on what to eat to meet your nutritional needs and maintain blood sugar management from a dietician or your doctor. For individualised guidance, your doctor ought to be able to recommend a qualified dietician.

Maintaining optimal blood sugar levels can be achieved by consuming wholesome foods with a low glycaemic index (GI). Wholegrain breads, hardly processed breakfast cereals like rolled or steel cut oats, legumes, fruit, pasta, and dairy items are all examples of this.

Eat a diet low in saturated fat and stay away from items heavy in carbohydrates and few nutrients, such as cakes, candies, and soft drinks.

You should eat regularly throughout the day, and you might also require snacks. Try to consume the same quantity each day.When should I visit my physician?

Make an appointment with your doctor to talk about the symptoms if you experience any of the ones listed above, as these could be signs of type 2 diabetes that hasn't been properly identified.

Your doctor will examine your symptoms, go over any type 2 diabetes risk factors you may have, and, if necessary, recommend that you get tested.

All Australians, starting at the age of 40, should get a type 2 diabetes screening every three years, even if they don't exhibit any symptoms. Indigenous Australians and those from the Torres Strait should begin screening at age 18. This checkup should be performed by your doctor. You could only need to assess your risk factors, or you might also require a blood test.