Type 2 diabetes is considered the most common form of the disease. With people afflicted with this form of diabetes, their body is either unable to produce insulin or its cells are ignoring insulin. As insulin is a necessary element to be able to use sugar, the absence of it in the cells and instead is drawn towards the blood may cause your cells to be starved of energy. Eventually, the glucose/sugar content in the blood, especially in higher amount, will damage your nerves, kidneys, heart and/or eyes.
Who are easy targets of Type 2 diabetes?
Although this disease is the most common form, and can afflict all people of ages, this is rampant to ageing population. Specifically, some racial groups, Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders, and Latinos, are at a higher risk to contract the disease.
What are the complications of Type 2 diabetes?
· Kidney diseases – diabetes can fail your kidney. When the kidney fails, its ability to filter waste materials will also malfunction.
· Heart disease and failure – this can increase risk for heart failures because of poor blood circulation.
· Nerve damage/diabetic neuropathy – damage to the nerves that connect all throughout the body will lead to this complication.
· Eye complication – this should be immediately treated as diabetes can lead to blindness.
· Skin complication – this is usually the first sign that the person may have the disease. Skin complications, though, can be treated easily if given action early.
· Depression – this is usually the sign of most disease because of the tendency to feel hopelessness on their conditions.
· Gastroparesis – also common to type 1 diabetes patients
Most common type 2 diabetes symptoms
- Excessive hunger feelings
- Extreme thirstiness
- Increase fatigue feelings
- Blurred vision
- Frequent and excessive urination
- Weight loss
- Irritability
- Contractions of different forms of infections
- Poor healing of sores and cuts
- Impotence
Diagnosing type 2 diabetes patients
Blood samples are drawn for the checking of blood sugar content. Specifically, diagnosing is done through the following tests:
· Random blood glucose/ sugar test
· Fasting plasma glucose/ sugar test
· Urine glucose/sugar test
· Urine ketones test
· Glycosylated hemoglobin test
· Oral glucose tolerance test
How to manage Type 2 diabetes?
Similar to type 1 diabetes, proper management will reduce risk of later diabetes complications. The goal of this diabetes management is to maintain glucose or sugar content into at least close to normal level. Specifically, management would include the following:
- Proper diet management;
- Proper and appropriate physical exercises;
- Proper medications;
- Monitoring blood sugar levels; and
- Regular medical and doctor examinations
Complications associated with type 2 diabetes
· Heart disease, cardiovascular/cerebrovascular disorders
· Nervous system disorders
· Kidney disorders
· Eye disorders
· Different kinds of infections
These mentioned complications should not deter patients from functioning normally with their activities. They can deal with this disease easily if they can follow religiously and properly the right management to reduce higher risks of diabetes complications. Regular check-ups will prevent any overlooked diabetes complications. Similarly, controlling your blood glucose content is essential in avoiding those diabetes complications.
Type 2 diabetes treatments
Type 2 diabetes, also medically known as non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, can be treated through diet modification, oral medications, and exercise. Insulin injection may also be needed to control the blood sugar or glucose content