Diabetes
is a very common disease affecting a number of people these days, primarily due
to the lifestyle and food alterations that have recently taken over. There are
two types of diabetes largely, type 1 and type 2 and most people suffering from
the disease suffer from the type 2 form of the disease.
What
is Type 2 Diabetes?
Diabetes
is essentially a condition wherein the body is unable to regulate the glucose
or the sugar levels causing them to rise way beyond the normal range. It is
also known as hyperglycemia.
The
pancreas in our body are responsible for the production of a hormone known
as insulin. This insulin is further responsible to turn the glucose form the
foods consumed into energy for the cells to carry out their day to day
functioning. When people suffer with type 2 diabetes, then the insulin made by
their body is not utilized in the correct manner by the cells for the release
of energy. This intern causes the glucose to remain in the blood, elevating the
sugar levels resulting in diabetes. This condition is also known as insulin
resistance.
This
becomes a regular feature as the pancreas try and make more insulin so that the
glucose reaches the cells, but eventually it results in a sugar build up in the
bloodstream.
Are
you At Risk of Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes could occur to
almost anybody, however there a number of factors that could cumulatively
result in type 2 diabetes for a person.
• Genetic Factors:
Various research and studies have indicated that a number of DNA and genetic
factors could be responsible for type 2 diabetes. Although the exact genes have
not been pin pointed, but these largely impact the way the body makes the
insulin in the body.
• Being overweight:
Excessive weight or being obese is one of the leading causes of type 2
diabetes. Being overweight particularly around the abdominal area can put one
at a high risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes. This is one of the main causes for
type 2 diabetes affecting kids and teenagers along with adults is due to an
increase in the number of obese people.
2 diabetes or insulin resistance.
• Excessive glucose
production by the liver: In a number of people, the liver makes excessive
glucose. Normally the blood sugar goes low in the body, there are signals sent
out to the liver which produces more glucose to supplement the sugar level.
Once one eats a meal the blood sugar level goes up and this causes the liver to
slow down and store the glucose for future. However, in case of some people the
liver is unable to slow down resulting in constant production of glucose
thereby resulting in high sugar levels in the body.
Malfunction of cells:
In some cases the cells in the body send out wrong signals or are unable to get
messages from the other parts of the body. Which is communication lag impacts the
cells and their making insulin or glucose there is a reaction triggered which
eventually results in diabetes.
What
Are the Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes?
To
confirm type 2 diabetes, there are several pathology tests including blood and
urine tests that can ascertain type 2 diabetes in a person. Apart from the
tests, there are several physical indicators or symptoms to look out for to
detect type 2 diabetes early in a person. Some of the most common symptoms of
type2 diabetes are:
• Sudden increase in
thirst: People suffering from type 2 diabetes often feel the urge to keep
drinking water or an increased thirst. This is because the excessive levels of
sugars that build up in the body, often absorb water from the tissues causing
thirst
• Frequent urge to
urinate: Since people suffering from type 2 diabetes feel unconsciously more
thirsty than normal people, the excessive fluid intake can cause them to
urinate more frequently than the normal.
• Increase in
appetite: Since people suffering from diabetes do not have adequate insulin to
transport sugar in the cells of the body, the organs of the body feel low on
energy which triggers untimely hunger to get instant energy.
• Sudden weight loss:
People with type 2 diabetes often notice sudden decrease in weight even though
they may be eating more than usual. The urine releases the glucose from the
body and hence the body uses the inherent fats that are stored in the body to
release energy.
• Unexplained
tiredness and fatigue: When the body and
the cells in the body do not get adequate sugar supply, they experience
tiredness irritation due to the inability to perform normal functions.
• Impact on the
eyesight: When the blood sugar becomes very high, it causes the fluid from the
eyes to be pulled out causing dryness in the eyes which in turn causes blurred vision.
• Slow-healing:
People who suffer from diabetes are prone to frequent infections and sores
which could take a long time to heal. They are more susceptible to infections
than normal people.
Darkening of the
skin: People suffering from type 2 diabetes often have dark patches in the skin
mainly around the neck and the armpits area. This condition is known as
acanthosis nigricans and primarily affects people with insulin resistance.
