Our bodies need insulin to move the sugar we get from food out of the bloodstream and into the cells of our body.
Type 2 diabetes tends to run in families.
The risk also increase with age and obesity, particularly due to fat stored around the abdominal area.
Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can produce the same symptoms, but the symptoms are usually a lot more obvious in Type 1 diabetes.
Statistics show, for every person who is diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, there is another person who has the disease but is not aware of it.
The symptoms of Type 2 diabetes can be mild, and some people find no symptoms are obvious until their diabetes is at an advanced stage and irreversible damage has actually occurred to their body.
It is true, the earlier diabetes is diagnosed and treated, the better chance you have of avoiding the complication associated with the disease.
These are all possible symptoms of Type 2 diabetes:
- increased urination, particularly at night,
- increased thirst,
- increased hunger,
- fatigue,
- infections such as thrush,
- skin infections such as boils or fungal infections,
- sores that do not heal,
- weight gain (usually),
- blurred vision,
- burning, numbness or tingling in your hands or feet.
- headaches,
- dizziness,
- mood changes and irritability,
- erectile dysfunction.
What you eat directly affects your weight and blood sugar levels.
Controlling what you eat and when you eat is a central part of your self-management, whether your goal is to drop some pounds or merely to control blood sugar.
The doctor who treats your Type 2 diabetes should recommend a blood sugar testing schedule for you and should ask to see your results during your regular visits.
The more frequently you test your blood sugar, the more likely you are to achieve the desired control.
Life style adjustments, self-care, medicines and a diet rich in high fiber and low saturated fat decreases the risk of the condition worsening.
Some oral medications help in increasing your body's response to insulin while others help the body to produce more insulin.
If this oral medicine is not adequate, then injectable insulin is recommended.
Blood sugar levels may drop significantly with just a small reduction in weight.
If you are overweight, a loss of only 10 to 15 pounds will substantially lower your blood sugar and reduce your risk of heart attack.
You will find you feel much better with lower blood sugar levels.
As diabetes progresses over time, this causes less insulin production and even a higher level of insulin resistance.
Insulin injections help in controlling the blood sugar levels and a combination of treatment (oral medication and insulin), helps you to take a lower dose of insulin.
The number of injections needed depends on the severity of your condition and the dosage can be adjusted according to your body's response to insulin.
Your blood sugar level measured on an empty stomach determines the dosage of insulin to be taken.
There are many different diabetes medications on the market.
Since individuals differ, so does the response a drug can have on the body.
This is why it is important to start a new drug slowly and keep a close eye out for any adverse reaction.
After being diagnosed, you should be referred by your doctor to a registered dietitian or a nutritionist to help educate you about foods and help you plan meals.
Your body is unique and reacts in its own way to foods choices, so use what you already know, and what you can learn from a nutritional expert, to choose what you eat.
If you are looking to enjoy the known benefits of physical activity, including better blood sugar control and the loss of weight, you are looking for a healthy level of physical fitness.
You don't need a level of fitness to join in team sports; health related fitness is all you really need to control your blood sugar, and that should be enough to help you lose weight.
In the beginning, a little bit of physical activity or exercise is better than none.
Just step up the level of physical activity in your life, in small increments.
As you become more active, be sure to drink more water or other fluids to replace the body fluids you lose during exercise.