Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes is a life-long disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. It occurs when the body does not respond correctly to insulin or the cells ignore the insulin, a hormone released by the pancreas and it is the most common form of diabetes. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar. Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can cause two problems:
- Right away, your cells may be starved for energy.
- Over time, high blood glucose levels may hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart
Its a serious disease, but people with diabetes can live long, healthy and make happy lives.
While diabetes occurs in people of all ages and races, some groups have a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes than others. Type 2 diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, as well as the aged population. Some people think that eating too much sugar causes diabetes but this is not true
Warning Signs
Some kids never notice any warning signs until they meet a doctor for a check-up.
- increased urination, especially at night
- unexplained weight loss
- Be very thirsty
- Feel tired
- Have thick dark skin on the neck or under the arms.
- Blurred vision
Factors Increase Risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes
- Overweight
- Not physically Active Enough
- Having a mom or dad or other close relative who has type 2 diabetes
- blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, or you have been told that you have high blood pressure.
- HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol) is below 35, or Triglyceride level is above 250.
- African American, Hispanic or Latino American, American Indian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander are also a possibility to get into risk.
How to Lower the Risks of Developing Diabetes
In determining the risk of developing diabetes, environmental factors such as food intake and exercise play an important role. The majority of individuals with type 2 diabetes are either overweight or obese. Inherited factors are also important, but the genes involved remain poorly defined. You can lower risks of developing diabetes are:
- Reach and maintain a reasonable body weight.
- Make wise food choices most of the time.
- Be physically active every day.
- Take your prescribed medicines.
Keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol on target also helps you stay healthy
Studies done with the help of Pima Indian volunteers have shown that breastfeeding may lower the baby’s risk of becoming overweight and getting diabetes.
Can Type 2 diabetes is preventable?
Research has demonstrated that people at risk for type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay developing type 2 diabetes by losing a little weight. Moderate diet changes and physical activity can delay and prevent type 2 diabetes.
Resaerches and Technologies
- Researchers are pursuing earlier and more aggressive treatment approaches that would help to preempt complications. Clinical trials currently under way will provide information about preventing diabetes complications with intensified control of glucose, blood pressure, and lipids, with improvements in lifestyle to achieve weight loss, and through use of specific glucose control strategies and revascularization interventions.
- New understanding of the molecular links between obesity and insulin resistance will inform the development of new therapeutic targets for preventing and treating type 2 diabetes.
- Identification of susceptibility genes for diabetes and its complications will enable earlier implementation of prevention measures targeted to those at highest risk. Identification of genes will also reveal new targets for drug development.
- Preempting the disease before it starts will eliminate the life-threatening complications, which will mean that people will live longer, healthier lives without fear—such as the fear of going blind or losing a lower limb.
- Research on the effect of maternal diabetes on offspring will help to uncover ways to break the vicious intergenerational cycle.
- Continued research on the mechanisms underlying the development and progression of disease complications will result in the ability to predict who is likely to develop them. With this knowledge, personalized treatments could then be developed to preempt complications. This strategy would dramatically improve the health and well being of patients.
See Also
