Type 2 Diabetes
A great majority of people with diabetes have the type 2 diabetes. It is observed mainly in people over the age of 40 and overweight or obese, but is increasingly diagnosed in children with rising rates of obesity.
• Genetics and family history play a big role in diabetes and is more common in Afro-Caribbean and South Asian people.
• In UK, 3% of over 40 year olds and 10% of over 65 year olds have type 2 diabetes.
• In US, 8% of the population has diabetes, 90-95% of whom are type 2. With prevalence rates doubling between 1990 and 2005, this increase is characterized as an epidemic.
• It is caused by insulin deficiency in the pancreas and insulin resistance in muscle, fat and liver cells. Pancreas is located behind the stomach and is responsible for producing insulin- main hormone that controls the flow of sugar in and out of cells of the body.
• Insulin resistance means that body cells don’t respond appropriately when insulin is present and can lead to high blood glucose, raise blood pressure and cause coronary heart disease by affecting fat levels in the blood and this clogging the arteries of the heart.
Most common symptoms are:
• Fatigue, weakness and feeling of unease.
• Being thirsty all the time.
• Passing large amounts of urine.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Itching of external genitalia.
General Type 2 Diabetes complications:
• Type 2 diabetes can damage the kidneys, cause them to fail and make them lose their ability to filter out waste products.
• People with diabetes are more likely to have foot problems, diabetes can damage nerves and you may not feel an injury until a large infection develops.
• Diabetes affects the body’s immune system and the body’s ability to fight infection.
• Can damage the blood vessels of the retina, potentially leading to blindness.
• Can dramatically increase the risk of various cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure, stroke and heart attack.
• May leave you more prone to bacterial and fungal infections on skin and gum infections.
• Impotence or erectile dysfunction may result as a result of nerve or vascular damage associated with diabetes.
• Decreased leg strength and poor balance when standing, cold and numb feet and loss of hair on the feet.
• Loss of function of the sensory nerves, which allow the brain to respond to sensations such as pain, touch and temperature. This affects the feet, leg and hands.
Lifestyle Changes:
To maintain normal blood sugar levels and to delay the onset of type 2 diabetes, you will need to make certain lifestyle choices:
• Losing some weight if you are overweight.
• Aiming for a low GI diet that is high in fiber, low in fat and with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Exercising regularly to lower blood sugar level, to burn excess calories and fat, to decrease insulin resistance: walking, cycling, dancing, swimming- whatever you fancy and will keep you active.
• Quitting smoking as smoking increases your risk of stroke, heart attack and many other problems.
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References:
Inzucchi SE, Sherwin RS, The Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Endocrinol Metab Clin N Am 34 (2205) 199-219.
Steinberger J, Moran A, Hong CP, Jacobs DR Jr, Sinaiko AR: Adiposity in childhood predicts obesity and insulin resistance in young adulthood. J Pediatr 138:469–473, 2001.
Mayoclinic.com/health/type-2-diabetes-complications, by Mayo Clinic Staff.
Yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/ glycemic-index-diabetes.html? pageNum=2, Glycemic Index and Diabetes, Reviewed By: Nikheel Kolatkar, M.D. , Review Date: 04-10-2007
