Type 2 is the most common type of diabetes. People who are middle-aged or older are most likely to get this kind of diabetes. It used to be called adult-onset diabetes. But type 2 diabetes also affects kids and teens, mainly because of childhood obesity. In type 2 diabetes, your body’s cells aren’t able to respond to insulin as well as they should. In later stages of the disease, your body may also not produce enough insulin. Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes can lead to chronically high blood glucose levels, causing several symptoms and potentially leading to serious complications.
Causes
In type 2 diabetes, your body isn’t able to effectively use insulin to bring glucose into your cells. This causes your body to rely on alternative energy sources in your tissues, muscles, and organs. This is a chain reaction that can cause a variety of symptoms. Also,
Genes- Scientists have found different bits of DNA that affect how your body makes insulin.
Extra weight- Being overweight or obese can cause insulin resistance.
Metabolic syndrome- People with insulin resistance often have a group of conditions including high blood sugar, extra fat around the waist, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol and triglycerides.
Too much glucose from your liver- When your blood sugar is low, your liver makes and sends out glucose. After you eat, your blood sugar goes up, and your liver will usually slow down and store its glucose for later. But some people's livers don't. They keep cranking out sugar.
Broken beta cells- If the cells that make insulin send out the wrong amount of insulin at the wrong time, your blood sugar gets thrown off. High blood sugar can damage these cells.
Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors.
Age 45 or older
Family. A parent, sister, or brother with diabetes.
Prediabetes
Heart and blood vessel disease.
High blood pressure.
Low HDL cholesterol.
High triglycerides.
Being overweight.
Getting little or no exercise.
Smoking.
Stress.
Sleeping too little or too much.
Symptoms.
️ constant hunger.
️ lack of energy.
fatigue.
️ weight loss.
️ excessive thirst.
️ frequent urination.
️ dry mouth.
️ itchy skin.
️ blurry vision.
If your blood glucose levels have been high for a long time, the symptoms can include,
yeast infections.
slow-healing cuts or sores.
dark patches on your skin.
Foot pain.
Feelings of numbness.
Type 2 Diabetes Prevention
Adopting a healthy lifestyle can help you lower your risk of diabetes.
Lose weight. Dropping just 7% to 10% of your weight can cut your risk of type 2 diabetes in half.
Get active. Thirty minutes of brisk walking a day will cut your risk by almost a third.
Eat right. Avoid highly processed carbs, sugary drinks, and trans and saturated fats. Limit red and processed meats.
Quit smoking. Work with your doctor to keep from gaining weight after you quit, so you don't create one problem by solving another.
Physiotherapy Management
◽Physical therapist can utilize exercise programs as an effective treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes and it has been proven that regular physical activity is crucial to in sustaining low blood sugar levels and improving insulin sensitivity. An exercise program for patients with type 2 diabetes should include combined endurance, aerobic, and resistance training.
References
https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/type-2-diabetes. https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes.
Dasith Gamage
Comments