Overview
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that affects how your body uses sugar (glucose) as an energy source. This type of diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance, which means that your body’s cells don’t respond properly to insulin, a hormone that helps glucose enter your cells and be used for energy. Resulting in which your bloodstream accumulates glucose, which raises your blood sugar levels.
It affects about 29 million people in the United States. About 48 million individuals worldwide are affected by prediabetes, which is high glucose level but not diabetes.
In 90–95 percent of cases, it is the most common type of diabetes. It typically develops slowly over time, and many people with type 2 diabetes may not experience any symptoms at first. But, when the illness worsens, symptoms including frequent urination, increased hunger and thirst, blurred vision, cuts or sores that take a long time to heal, and weariness may also appear.
What is type 2 diabetes?
The most common diabetes we see among the people is actually ‘type 2 diabetes. It is a chronic metabolic disorder in which the body’s ability to regulate glucose (sugar) levels in the blood is impaired.
This happens when the body doesn’t produce required insulin, or the insulin that is produced is not being used effectively by the body. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the uptake of glucose into the body’s cells, where it is used for energy.
Glucose builds up in the bloodstream as a result of insulin resistance or shortage, which raises blood sugar levels. Over time, this can damage organs and tissues in the body and lead to a variety of health problems.
This is the most prevalent type of diabetes. It is often linked to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, but genetic factors and other lifestyle factors such as stress and sleep deprivation may also contribute to its development. It is a chronic illness that necessitates continuing management, which includes dietary adjustments, medication, and blood sugar level monitoring.
Generally adults are more likely to be affected by it. Formerly it was referred to as adult-onset diabetes. But children and young people are also being affected it because of rising obesity rates among them.
Causes of type 2 diabetes
It is a lifelong chronic condition that causes your blood sugar level high.
One can have this diabetes due to the problem of the hormone referred to ‘insulin’ in the body. Insulin controls the amount of glucose or sugar levels in the blood.
This hormone is produced by a gland called pancreas located behind the stomach.
When food is digested some of them are converted to glucose/sugar and enters into your blood, then insulin takes sugar from the blood into your body cells and breaks it down to produce energy.
But, in type 2 diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin, or even if enough insulin is produced, the body’s cells are not responding to that insulin. As a result, your body is unable to hold the process of breaking down sugar to create energy.
Pancreas first produces enough insulin and carrys glucose into the cells. Once the Pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin means the glucose density gets higher in the blood and the blood gets thicker.
Pancreas controls the flow of sugar into the body cells. Pancreas of people with type 2 diabetes can’t generate a sufficient amount of insulin. As a result your cells badly react to insulin and receive less sugar.
Apart from this, both lifestyle and genetic factors are responsible for developing type-2 diabetes. Some of these elements, including diet and obesity, are under the individual’s control.
But some factors such as aging, gender, and genetics are beyond the individual’s control. Insomnia is thought to be associated with type-2 diabetes.
Lifestyle factors
Type 2 diabetes is mostly influenced by lifestyle factors, such as obesity and being overweight (defined by a body mass index (BMI)of greater than 25), inactivity, poor food, stress, and the consequences of urbanization.
30% of Chinese and Japanese, 60-80% of Europeans and Africans, 100% of Pima Indians, and Pacific Islanders have excess body fat as a risk factor for the illness. Type-2 diabetes is more likely to develop among smokers.
Diet has certain effects on it such as consuming too much sugar or sugary drinks may enhance the risk.The type of fat in the diet is important, with saturated fat and trans-fatty acids enhance the risk of diabetes, while polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat reduce the risk.
Eating excess amounts of white rice is thought to be the increased risk of diabetes.
Lack of physical activity accounted for 7% of cases.
Genetic factors
Type 2 diabetes is can be caused by all genes. Identical twins have a greater than 90% probability of developing this disease if one of them does have it.
This probability is 25-50% in case of fraternal twins. More than 36 genes have been shown to be connected to type-2 diabetes as of 2011.
Most of the genes associated with diabetes are involved in beta cell function.
If one of the parents has Type 2 diabetes, the child has a high chance of this disease being transmitted genetically. More probability of being affected if both of the parents have this disease. In their care no factors are responsible but the genetic factor.
In that case, the patients should take care of themselve properly and try to stay healthy by modifying lifestyle, doing regular exercise and healthy diet
Symptom of type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes symptoms typically develop over time and gradually. In actuality, it can be present for years without symptoms. When one has this disease, the signs and symptoms might be of the following:
- Undesired loss of weight
- Urinating very frequently
- Always feeling fatigue
- Sensation of tingling and numb in the hands or feet
- Increased thirst all day long
- Slowly healing wounds
- Frequently get infections
- Enhanced hunger
- Skin become dark especially in the armpits and neck areas
- Blurring of vision
Complications of type 2 diabetes
- Recently diabetes has become a worldwide burden. It is the cause of premature death and its complications have brought an adverse economic impact on people, method of healthcare and quality of life.
- Hormone called insulin produced by the bodies of people with this diabetes to regulate blood glucose. Patients, however, are unable to effectively manage their blood sugar levels. As a result numerous bodily systems, particularly the nerves and blood arteries, are harmed by excessive blood glucose levels.
- Risk of kidney failure, heart disease, blindness and amputation of lower legs, stroke are increased if left uncontrolled.
- Dementia, hearing loss, and various cancers have all been linked to diabetes in recent studies.
Risk factors of type 2 diabetes
The following are type 2 diabetes risk factors:
Family background: Family background is an important risk factor. If one of the parents or both siblings suffer from this disease.
Age: The people with age of 45 or more are in higher risk zone. A significant change in metabolism takes place with the age of 40. The metabolism starts to be weak slowly.
Ethnicity: American citizens who identify as African American, Alaska Native, Native American, Asian, Hispanic or Latino, or Pacific Islander are at risk of type 2 diabetes.
Body weight: Overweight or obesity is a significant risk of type 2 diabetes.
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Prevention
Type 2 diabetes can often be prevented or delayed with lifestyle changes. Here are some ways to prevent or reduce the risk of growing type 2 diabetes:
- Maintain a healthy weight: The likelihood of getting type 2 diabetes increases with excess weight, especially around the waist. Even a slight weight loss can greatly lower the risk.
- Exercise regularly: Regular physical activity can help to improve insulin sensitivity, which is essential for maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. On most days of the week, aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise.
- Eat a healthy diet: A healthy diet that is low in processed and sugary foods and high in fiber, fruits, vegetables, and lean protein can be helpful.
- Intermittent Fasting: Intermittent has been a very helpful prevention and cure for type 2 diabetes.
- Avoid smoking: Smoking raises the possibility of getting type 2 diabetes and other health issues.
- Limit alcohol intake: Drinking too much alcohol can make you more likely to get type 2 diabetes.
- Manage stress: Chronoc mental stress can affect blood sugar levels and raise the risk of type 2 diabetes. It can be beneficial to find stress-reduction strategies, such as meditation, yoga, or other forms of relaxation.
- Get enough sleep: Lack of sleep can affect blood sugar levels by increasinf cortisol hormon and raise the possibility of getting type 2 diabetes. Sleep for 7-8 hours every night.
It is also important to have regular check-ups with your healthcare provider, especially if you have a family history of diabetes or other risk factors. They can keep an eye on your blood sugar levels and offer advice on managing or preventing type 2 diabetes.
Conclusion
Diabetes is a slowly fatal disease for which there are no recognized cures.
With the proper information and early care, its issues can be reduced. Numerous health issues, including heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, nerve damage, eyesight loss, and even amputations, can develop if type 2 diabetes is left untreated.
However, many people with type 2 diabetes are able to control their blood sugar levels and delay or avoid problems with adequate care and lifestyle adjustments.
Making healthy choices and following your treatment plan can help you live a full and active life with diabetes.
Feel free to let me know if you need further assistance or if there’s anything else you’d like to add or modify!
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